LaLiga: Mourinho says fitting Madrid’s three stars will be difficult

Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid face a difficult task fitting Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham into the same starting XI. The manager does not regard the three players as incompatible, but believes finding a balanced role for each will be demanding.

Madrid begin their new LaLiga campaign away to Espanyol on Saturday. The fixture is set to be Mourinho’s first competitive match since returning for a second spell at the club, with his team aiming to challenge Barcelona after the Catalan side won the previous two league titles.

Mourinho highlighted the different responsibilities that have allowed each player to perform effectively for his country. Vinicius has been given a defined position by Brazil, Mbappe has operated in a role suited to him under France coach Didier Deschamps, while Jude Bellingham has also found a successful role with England under Thomas Tuchel.

The manager’s task is to create a system that brings those strengths together at Madrid. He remains confident the attacking trio can play successfully as a unit, even though he considers it harder to identify one ideal arrangement for all three than for any individual player.

Madrid have gone two years without a major trophy since Mbappe arrived as a free agent. The pressure to improve comes as Vinicius begins a new contract, while the squad also includes Yan Diomande, the club’s record signing.

Mourinho’s comments place the selection problem at the centre of Madrid’s season opener. The club wants to end Barcelona’s run of successive LaLiga titles, but its manager must first decide how to use three of its most prominent attacking players without reducing their influence.