Sports
An atmosphere of intense anxiety is casting a shadow over the backstage of Real Madrid, amid the ongoing state of tension that has dominated the locker room for several months, and the technical staff led by coach Jose Mourinho, who took charge during the summer transfer window, has not yet managed to contain it. This places the team in front of doubled challenges with the resumption of local and continental competitions after the long international break that lasted for three full weeks. The royal team is preparing to return to the atmosphere of the Spanish League with a strong match against Villarreal at their home stadium next Saturday within the eighth round matches, seeking to compensate for their recent stumble and defeat against Atletico Madrid by two goals to one before the break, which puts the coach and players in a real test to quickly restore balance, especially in light of a very difficult upcoming schedule that includes precise European and local tests. The series of difficult matches begins with an arduous trip away from home to face Italian side Roma next Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League, followed by two matches at their home ground against both Sevilla and RB Leipzig, before clashing with their traditional rival Barcelona in the anticipated El Clasico on the twenty-fifth of this October, matches that will largely determine the features of the team's season and its ability to compete on all fronts. Despite the players dispersing and joining their national teams throughout the past three weeks, a state of coldness and apathy still dominates the team's internal atmosphere, as media reports described the situation as far from stability, and local press confirmed that the atmosphere inside the locker room remains as cold as it was five months ago, noting that Mourinho has not yet succeeded in changing the dynamics of a group of players whose relationships were not ideal with previous coaching names like Xabi Alonso or Arbeloa. Things did not stop at the limits of coldness and alienation between the elements, but the crisis escalated according to reports to reach the point of players physically clashing inside the club's corridors, without revealing the identity of those involved in this altercation, which doubles the volume of pressure placed on the administration and the technical staff. This ongoing coldness that Mourinho's sharpness failed to dispel, alongside the disturbances accompanying the issue of French star Kylian Mbappe, created a completely charged environment before entering the decisive month of October. On the other hand, striker Kylian Mbappe engaged in team training last Wednesday, registering his first return since suffering an injury during his participation with his national team against Turkey in a match that ended with a clean goal for the French, on the twenty-fifth of last September. The French star had caused a state of clear discontent within the royal club's surroundings due to his recent behavior, unreserved outings, hanging out at a night club, and posting a controversial story while riding a bicycle, in addition to the ambiguity that surrounded his physical readiness throughout the past period. Despite these behavioral notes, the captain of the French national team seems to have overcome the danger stage and is in a better condition physically, making him available and eligible to participate in the upcoming Villarreal match, as data indicates that his physical condition has become ideal, which may push coach Mourinho to include him in the starting lineup from the first minute. In the same context, the manager held a special meeting with the French star during the current week to guide him and emphasize the need to be reserved in his personal life outside the green rectangle. For its part, the club's management reaffirms that the player is in excellent condition, and there are no indicators that Mourinho will refrain from strongly defending him during the press conference scheduled for Friday. Real Madrid also officially sees that there is no real crisis behind the recent actions of its prominent forward, and the club does not expect the player to be subjected to whistling from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium fans, reflecting a clear desire to contain the situation and support the big star to overcome this critical stage.
