Overview
- Real Madrid beat Schalke 04 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, with Kylian Mbappé scoring and several summer signings making their first appearances.
- Mourinho said the squad is growing into a unit and described his players as “good, very good and very very good,” while stressing that staff are using data to limit minutes for recent arrivals.
- The coach applied specific, managed playing-time targets in the friendly, mentioning roughly 45 minutes for some recruits and about 30 minutes for others to reduce injury risk and build fitness.
- Preseason under Mourinho produced five wins and one draw, with 14 goals scored, four conceded and four clean sheets, evidence the team’s defensive shape has improved through focused work.
- Key tactical questions remain in midfield selection with Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Tchouaméni and Valverde competing for limited spots as the club moves into competitive fixtures.