Premier League
Mourinho's tactical overhaul aims to unleash Mbappe at Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho is preparing a tactical shift at Real Madrid to maximise Kylian Mbappe’s impact for the upcoming season, and to give him more space in open areas. The Portuguese coach plans to restructure the attacking framework without moving Mbappe from his traditional centre‑forward role.
The outlet AS Mourinho wants Mbappe to receive the ball in dangerous zones with room to attack, rather than spending long periods battling central defenders inside the penalty area. The coaching staff believes the French forward is most dangerous when operating in open space.
Instead of a fixed number nine, Mbappe is expected to operate from wider and deeper attacking positions, using his pace and direct running against defenders. This adjustment would let him collect possession outside the box before driving toward goal, where he is most effective.
Within the 4‑2‑3‑1 formation Mourinho favours, Vinicius Jr. would start from a slightly deeper left‑side role, while Jude Bellingham would be encouraged to make more advanced runs into the penalty area. Those movements are intended to create additional space for Mbappe to attack from outside the box.
Mbappe has accepted that improvements are needed in his defensive work when the ball is not in his possession. Mourinho is still refining his ideas during pre‑season, and the first building blocks of the tactical project are already becoming visible.
The accompanying image was captured by Dan Mullan. The visual underlines the new attacking shape that Real Madrid hopes to implement next season.