Mourinho's Real Madrid Kicks Off Season Without Respite

ALVARO DE MIGUEL, “AS”

Four matches in 14 days. That's how the 2026-27 season officially kicks off for José Mourinho's new Real Madrid. After an old-school preseason preparation (no overseas tours), the 'Blancos' are bracing for an exceptionally demanding start to the championship. Some players, including Cucurella, Mbappé, Tchouaméni, Konaté, and Bellingham, will have just over a week to prepare for the first match (they join on Monday, August 10th). The preseason was designed to simulate the intensity of this upcoming start. The specter of injuries, after years of physical chaos, is a major concern for the club.

The postponement of the team's first La Liga fixture, due to players' participation in the World Cup semifinals, is a double-edged sword. It adds one more game to the August marathon. This delay means the first four rounds will be played within 14 days. The official debut is set for August 22nd against Espanyol; on the 26th and 30th, the team will host Real Sociedad and Málaga, respectively. The series of matches will conclude in Seville against Betis on September 4th. Four games, two away fixtures, two trips, and little rest.

To cope with what promises to be a physically demanding season, the club has reinforced every area. Florentino Pérez, amidst his re-election campaign, analyzed the past season, stating: “The reason for the poor season was the Club World Cup; we couldn't have a proper preseason and failed to regain our physical form, playing every Wednesday and Sunday, which led to too many injuries.” This was one of the first areas of action this summer. To rectify this, the 'Blancos' brought in Alexander Kröze, the esteemed head doctor from Monaco, to tackle last year's epidemic of 52 injuries. Raúl Asensio is the first player to be sidelined this season.

One of Mourinho's demands was also met: to have two players for every position. Done and dusted. The arrival of new signings like Cucurella, Konaté, Dumfries, Espi, and Bernardo Silva fulfills the coach's wishes. And potential transfers for Diomande and Rodry are still on the horizon. Mou understands that the best recipe against the demanding modern football calendar is a deep squad and the ability to rotate without losing potential. However, it's not all good news for the Setúbal-born coach, as the Spanish full-back and French center-back will arrive very close to the start of the league, requiring lightning-fast adaptation.

For years, the 'Blancos' conducted their preseason abroad (the United States being the chosen destination in recent years). This expanded the Real Madrid brand even further and helped avoid the capital's heat. However, for several seasons, this hasn't been possible. Last year, the Club World Cup disrupted plans, and this year, the World Cup was the reason. This forced the club to organize its preseason in the old-fashioned way, playing friendly matches in Europe. Three matches remain, to be played within eight days (August 8th against Ferencváros, August 12th against Deportivo La Coruña, and August 16th against Schalke 04).

This situation means Real Madrid will play seven matches within the 31 days of August. A calendar that resembles months when the team competes in multiple competitions (League, Copa del Rey, and Champions League). The physical load must be calculated precisely to avoid injuries. Dean Hausen, with an overload in his left thigh, and Raúl Asensio, who will be out for about six weeks due to a rectus femoris injury, were the first to fall.

Four matches in 14 days to kick off La Liga. Seven duels in August, including preseason. This will be the start for Mourinho's new Real Madrid in the 2026-27 season. A grueling calendar that elevates the importance of summer physical preparation to pursue the season's grand objective: to win everything again.