It seems that the Portuguese José Mourinho, the technical director of Real Madrid club, has begun to outline the features of his team for the new 2026-2027 season, as he has a clear vision regarding the shape of the squad he wants to rely on during the season.
The match against Ferencváros was the second real test for Real Madrid during the preparation period, after the team faced the Hungarian side while in better physical and technical condition, as a result of playing matches in the Europa League qualifiers in addition to two matches in the domestic league.
Despite the difficulties Real Madrid faced, especially in the second half, Mourinho’s men managed to pass the test, allowing the team to continue its preparations for the new season, before facing two more tests in the coming days against Deportivo La Coruña and Schalke.
Mourinho wants a squad of 20 players
Amid the recent controversy surrounding the depth of Real Madrid’s squad, Mourinho clearly stated his position after arriving in Hungary, saying: “We want a small squad, consisting of around 20 players.”
The Portuguese coach’s statements reveal his desire to work with a limited group of players, so that nearly every player gets a chance to participate instead of having a large squad with many elements who may not get enough playing time.
However, this philosophy may put Mourinho in a difficult dilemma, especially since Real Madrid’s squad includes a large number of names capable of competing for starting positions.
Abundance of options in all lines
Looking at the current squad, options appear available in almost all positions, as Real Madrid has more than one player capable of filling each position.
In goal, the starting spot seems secured for Belgian Thibaut Courtois, with Andriy Lunin as the backup option.
On the flanks, there is a large group of options, most notably Marc Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Denzel Dumfries, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy, giving Mourinho multiple solutions to cover both sides.
In central defense, the arrival of Ibrahima Konaté has further increased competition, making Raúl Asencio one of the later options among the defenders, which may explain his name being linked with a possible departure from the club during the transfer window.
Fierce competition in midfield
The picture is not much different in midfield, where Mourinho has five players competing for two positions in the double pivot.
The group includes Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga, and Thiago Pitarch, meaning the Portuguese coach will face extremely strong competition and will need to manage the rotation process precisely to keep everyone ready.
This abundance gives Real Madrid great strength, but at the same time it may mean that some big names will find themselves regularly outside the starting lineup.
Great attacking power
In the attacking third, the options appear even more abundant. On the left side, Vinícius Júnior leads the choices, with the expectation of Rodrigo’s return from injury to reclaim his natural position.
On the right side, Mourinho has the duo Yan Diomande and Brahim Díaz, in addition to the possibility of relying on Endrick, and even Valverde in certain circumstances.
In the attacking positions behind the striker, Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler stand out as some of the team’s most important options, while Kylian Mbappé remains the standout weapon at center forward, with Carlos Espi and Endrick as additional options.
6 players with limited roles
Despite the strength of the squad, Mourinho’s calculations leave around six players with very limited roles if the coach sticks to his idea of a squad of about 20 players.
This highlights one of the drawbacks of a short squad: several big-name players may find themselves forced to wait on the bench in search of playing opportunities.
Yet Mourinho appears ready to pay this price in exchange for having a limited group of players he trusts, rather than extra elements merely to complete the numbers.
Injuries: the greatest danger
The factor that could change all the Portuguese coach’s calculations remains injuries. Recent experiences with Real Madrid have proven that injuries represent a recurring crisis for the team, a problem the club has been unable to eliminate season after season.
The effects of this problem have already begun to appear during the preparation period, with Dejan Huisen suffering, along with injuries to Raúl Asencio and Thiago Pitarch, in addition to the absences affecting the team such as Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrigo.
If injuries recur during the season, Mourinho may find himself forced to change his plan, either by increasing reliance on the players already in the squad or turning to Real Madrid’s academy to compensate for the shortage.
Thus, Mourinho’s philosophy appears clear: a short squad, strong competition, and defined roles for each player. However, the success of this plan will depend greatly on Real Madrid’s ability to keep its players away from injuries throughout the season.