Jose Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid this summer after a 13-year absence, signing a three-year contract with the club. His goal is to bring stability and success after two seasons without major trophies. However, tensions have resurfaced as the team enters its seventh league match of his second spell, particularly after a recent defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid. This loss has raised concerns about Real Madrid's consistency and Mourinho's tactics. The loss to Atletico Madrid was attributed by Mourinho to two first-half decisions he felt were against his team—Cristian Romero escaping a red card for a studs-up challenge on Jude Bellingham and Lee Kang-in going unpunished for a similar challenge on Federico Valverde. However, Real Madrid's overall performance was deemed insufficient, leaving them fourth in La Liga, six points behind defending champions Barcelona. Barcelona has already scored 31 goals in seven games, with Raphinha scoring 12 times. Atletico Madrid is second, and Real Betis is third, both five points behind Real Madrid. A key issue identified was Real Madrid's lack of control in midfield. Mourinho started Aurelien Tchouameni alongside Valverde, with Bellingham playing further forward. This pairing provided energy and defensive security but struggled to control the tempo or create opportunities from deeper areas. Bernardo Silva was introduced for the final eight minutes but by then Madrid were already chasing the game. This has prompted Mourinho to consider selection decisions, potentially incorporating Silva or Arda Guler for more creativity and control against compact defenses. Real Madrid has individual attacking quality with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Bellingham, but the challenge lies in making it work as a unit. Against Atletico, Mbappe was largely ineffective, and Vinicius was substituted shortly after Dean Huijsen's red card. Mourinho needs to ensure these players complement rather than overwhelm each other. Vinicius must rediscover his explosiveness, while Mbappe requires more chances rather than creating them himself. Carlos Espi, a 21-year-old forward, has shown promise with two late goals in his league debut and could offer Mourinho another option when a focal point is needed. Defensive transitions were another concern, as Atletico repeatedly found space around Madrid's midfield and attacked quickly. Huijsen's red card exacerbated the situation, highlighting the need for greater cohesion, particularly when full-backs push forward. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several important saves, underscoring his continued importance. Mourinho must find solutions to these issues quickly to remain competitive in the title race.