Mourinho starts with a win: Successful debut in his renewed tenure
The Portuguese coach's second stint at Real Madrid opened with a victory over Alcorcon. Arda Guler missed a penalty, Daniel Yanez secured the win from the spot, and new signing Franco Mastantuono impressed in his debut appearance.
Jose Mourinho recorded his first victory this evening (Friday) since returning for his second tenure at Real Madrid, as his team secured a 0:1 win against Alcorcon in their first pre-season friendly at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium. The match was held behind closed doors with limited media access, as journalists were permitted to observe only the first 20 minutes.
Mourinho fielded a lineup featuring nine first-team players, while Fede Valverde, who only joined training this week, watched from the stands. Real Madrid started in a 4:3:3 formation with Andriy Lunin in goal; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras in defense; Eduardo Camavinga, Jorge Sastre, and Arda Guler in midfield; and Franco Mastantuono, Gonzalo Garcia, and Gabri Vallejo up front. Early in the match, Mastantuono earned a penalty after an excellent individual run, but Arda Guler failed to convert from the spot. The Blancos dominated the remainder of the game, and in the 70th minute, all first-team players were replaced by academy prospects. The winning goal was scored by Daniel Yanez from a penalty kick.
According to reports from Spain, Franco Mastantuono was the standout performer. The Argentine talent displayed pace, intelligent movement, and high-level technical ability on the wing and in the center, leaving a very positive impression in his first appearance.
Beyond the result, the focus in Spain remained on Mourinho. The Portuguese manager, returning to the Valdebebas complex for the first time in 13 years, maintained a low profile throughout the match. He stepped onto the pitch only before the opening whistle, checked the grass, applauded his players, and offered quiet instructions from the bench, avoiding the stormy gestures that characterized his past tenure.
Changes in the coaching staff were also evident during the open training session preceding the match. Mourinho chose to integrate Antonio Pintus, the club's veteran fitness coach, with Antonio Dias, a staff member he brought with him, in an effort to find balance following the heavy criticism leveled at Real Madrid's fitness and injury management system last season.
