UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid Beat Inter 3-1, Mourinho Cannot Hide His Concerns

In 2010, Mourinho lifted the Champions League trophy here, and at that moment the Bernabeu seemed as if it existed for him. Two years later? The team was eliminated in a penalty shootout, and a bone-chilling sense of disappointment surrounded the entire squad. Ten years later, he stood on the Bernabeu touchline again, facing the same Champions League stage and the same Inter opponent. The story seemed to be repeating itself. But this time, the script was far from finished.

To be honest, the first-half statistics were almost unbelievable. 128 to 15, was this not a Champions League knockout match but a training session? Inter Milan completely controlled the tempo in the first half, and Real Madrid's defense looked extremely fragile. It was hard to imagine this was Real Madrid in 2025, a Galacticos side featuring Mbappe, Bellingham and Valverde.

But football can sometimes be completely unreasonable. Inter clearly had the advantage, yet they simply could not find a goal. In the 23rd minute, Mbappe and Valverde took advantage of defensive mistakes from their opponents to give Real Madrid a two-goal lead. At that moment, the Bernabeu thought the match was settled, but what followed left everyone shocked.

Mbappe was truly impressive in this match. His pressing movements and anticipation of passing lanes looked much smarter than before. Some people had previously criticized him for not running or pressing, making him seem invisible, but in this match he actively pressed to force mistakes. Brahim Diaz received the ball and delivered a cross, and Mbappe finished with a controlled shot. This kind of link-up is the understanding only top-level forwards in the Champions League can show.

But the question is, is Mbappe's individual awakening enough? Courtois made seven saves in front of goal, a goalkeeper-like performance. But putting a team's future on one goalkeeper is still putting things in the wrong order. Valverde gave the best player award to Courtois after the match. It sounded humble, but after deeper thought, was there also some helplessness behind it?

What is even more concerning is the emptiness in midfield. Guler was suspended, and Bernardo Silva was also absent. Their roles cannot simply be replaced by anyone. Especially B Silva, whom the club specifically brought in to strengthen midfield control. As a result, Arnold now has to fill the role. What level can Arnold reach as a midfielder? The confused look he showed when he came onto the pitch said enough.

Do you know what is most worrying? Real Madrid were two goals ahead, yet they spent the entire match under pressure. Inter's passing, movement and tempo were all a level above Real Madrid's. This was not the first time Mourinho had faced such a situation, but the problem was that this time he did not have enough time to make slow adjustments.

Real Madrid showed some improvement at the start of the second half. Bellingham came close to scoring again, and Mbappe also had chances to extend the lead. But Inter's Augusto brought the suspense back with a shot in the 77th minute. At that moment, the atmosphere at the Bernabeu changed from relaxed to suffocating, creating that familiar feeling of tension.

When Vinicius was substituted in the 87th minute, some fans began to boo him. Mbappe received the same reaction when he was replaced in stoppage time. Were these fans truly becoming impatient, or had they already lost patience with this Real Madrid team? Seeing a match like this, how would you feel?

I still remember Mourinho's words before the match clearly: "I want victories. I do not want to play well and lose like we did against Betis last Friday." The statement sounded practical, but in the context of the Champions League, did it also reveal a sense of helplessness? When a team lacks midfield control and Arnold looks lost in midfield, what kind of beautiful football can you expect?

But Mourinho is not a coach who only knows how to sit deep defensively. From 2010 to 2013, his three seasons at the Bernabeu all ended in the semifinals, which was one of the most frustrating periods of his career. Now returning for a second spell, he wants more than anyone to erase that regret. At the same time, he also said: "We have won the matches we should have won, and we have lost the matches we should have lost. That page has already turned."

The season has only just begun, with five league matches and only this one Champions League game played. It is too early to make conclusions, but one thing is certain: if Real Madrid want to become genuine title contenders and lift the trophy at the city derby stadium next June, they need more than a moment of inspiration from Mbappe and more than Courtois' heroic saves.

For this Real Madrid team to achieve a complete transformation, they need to rebuild their overall style. They cannot rely only on Courtois at one end and Mbappe at the other; the midfield must grow again. Mourinho is facing more than just a victory or defeat. He must find a way, in a new cycle, to help this once-glorious team rediscover its own football philosophy.

The story of the Bernabeu continues, and Mourinho's second chapter has only opened its first page. This time, however, he hopes the ending will be different. Do you think he will succeed?