Jamie Carragher has questioned Jose Mourinho’s influence at Real Madrid, insisting the Portuguese manager is struggling to impose his tactical identity despite the Spanish side’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over Roma.
Real Madrid came from behind to secure all three points at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night, maintaining their perfect start to the European campaign after trailing 3-1 with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Summer signing Carlos Espi sparked the comeback before goals from Kylian Mbappe, Endrick and Antonio Rudiger helped Mourinho’s side complete the turnaround.
However, the victory did little to convince Carragher, who believes Madrid’s attacking strength is making it difficult for the manager to build a team around his preferred tactical approach.
Speaking on CBS Sports, the former Liverpool defender was asked by presenter Kate Scott whether Mourinho’s current side reflected the manager’s traditional identity.
Carragher said: “No. I think it’s very difficult for them to get it, because you’ve got so many great attacking players.
“When you go to a club of that size, you have to play them. It’s not a case of you think, ‘Okay, I’ll take an attacking player out and maybe put an extra midfielder there’.”
He argued that the expectations at Madrid make it difficult for managers to implement their own philosophies, particularly when the team has several high-profile attacking players who need to be accommodated.
Carragher added: “I think it’s difficult for almost any manager to go to Real Madrid and be themselves.
“They almost have to play the game of being a Real Madrid coach.
“We know Jose Mourinho is a proper structured, organised coach – you see that throughout his career. But even he can’t be that at Real Madrid.”
Despite the victory over Roma, Carragher believes the team’s reliance on late goals and comebacks suggests that Mourinho has yet to establish a convincing level of control.
The former Liverpool defender said: “It just feels like, even in these early weeks of the season, he’s hanging on by his fingernails, or they’re getting last-minute goals, comebacks.
“They don’t look convincing at all, really. But they’re just doing enough where you can’t feel like it’s falling apart, or it’s not working. They’re just hanging on in there.”
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The comeback against Roma highlighted the fine margins surrounding Madrid’s performances, with their attacking quality rescuing a match that had appeared to be slipping away.
The pressure on Mourinho is further heightened by the club’s reported run of three consecutive seasons without a trophy, increasing expectations for the returning manager to deliver silverware.
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