Real Madrid Lose 0-1 to Betis as World-Class Players Under Mourinho Remain on the Bench

Losing is not always a bad thing, especially when you see the potential competition inside the dressing room. Real Madrid made significant moves during the summer window, adding double coverage in every position. This improved squad depth has visibly increased the team's overall strength. But the other side of having such a strong squad is that even talented players have to sit on the bench.

First, there is Jan Diomande. The Ivory Coast international's transfer fee reportedly broke Real Madrid's club record, and normally such an investment would mean a guaranteed starting role. However, reality delivered a surprise — Arda Guler has been outstanding.

Mourinho designed a tactical role for Diomande to allow him to use his ability to cut inside and score from the right side. However, Guler's performances in this position have been exceptional, almost as if the system was built specifically for him. A player who can act as a creative hub on the right wing while also cutting inside to deliver decisive attacks has greatly reduced Diomande's playing opportunities.

But Diomande should not be underestimated. In the 2025-26 Bundesliga season with Leipzig, he recorded 20 direct goal involvements, and his dribbling and ball-carrying ability ranked among the best European wingers. He has simply encountered an extremely strong competitor. If Guler suffers a dip in form or an injury, Diomande can step forward and prove his value.

Next is Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the match against Malaga, he delivered a textbook performance as a right-back, excelling in attacking organization, defensive positioning, and crossing quality. Based on that performance, the starting right-back role should have belonged to him.

However, the reality is that since the start of the four La Liga matches, Dumfries has started three of them. Alexander-Arnold can currently only sit on the bench. Objectively speaking, he is already one of the top substitutes in the world. Such a change in role is difficult for any player to accept, but Mourinho's teams have always been built around competition, which can also serve as motivation.

Mourinho's tactical plan is interesting. He intends to create an unbalanced four-defender system. Cucurella on the left mainly takes on defensive responsibilities, stabilizing the back line while supporting attacks on the right. The right side is given to a player with great attacking freedom, allowing him to combine wide-area creativity with midfield connections.

Alexander-Arnold is the ideal candidate for the right-sided creator role in this system. His passing vision and ability to release the ball quickly are unique in this position. Dumfries' arrival disrupted the original plan, but it also gives Mourinho more tactical options.

The center-back position has also seen intense competition. The partnership of Huijsen and Konate has shown surprising chemistry, and Konate's arrival as a free transfer has made the deal appear extremely valuable.

In theory, Militao returning from injury should have meant an automatic return to the starting lineup. He was once considered one of the best center-backs in world football, with elite physical ability, interception skills, and distribution. But Huijsen and Konate are currently in strong form, meaning Militao must regain the coach's trust through training and match performances.

Players who have suffered multiple serious injuries often face a difficult question: can they return to their pre-injury level? Militao's career has included both brilliant moments and major injury setbacks. He now stands at a crossroads, and time will provide the answer.

The stories of these three players reflect a core principle of Mourinho's Real Madrid: there are no guaranteed starters, only absolute competition. Mourinho will not give someone a guarantee simply because of past achievements; he focuses on current performances and training attitude.

This intense internal competition is part of Real Madrid's path toward the top. When every position has more than one world-class player competing for it, the team's overall floor continues to rise. Even if a starter struggles for form, someone on the bench can step in seamlessly at any time.

The 0-1 defeat to Betis may lead some people to question Mourinho's coaching ability. But looking at the bigger picture, what can be seen is a team that is building strength. The internal competition created by improved squad depth will gradually release significant energy over the course of the long season.

Diomande, Alexander-Arnold, and Militao are currently on the bench, but all three carry world-class labels. Mourinho's task is to help them step forward at the right moments and become key forces that decide matches. For a team aiming for trophies, this depth itself is the greatest confidence.

The new season has only just begun, and Real Madrid's story is far from finished. Mourinho and his players are writing the chapter of the 2026-27 season through every training session and every substitute appearance. The world-class players sitting on the bench will eventually have their moment.