Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has adopted a method of informing his players of the starting XI a day before matches, as part of his approach to managing the squad and reducing the tension associated with waiting to learn who will play.
According to journalist Mario Cortegana, the Portuguese coach aims to make this procedure a fixed routine, ensuring that players arrive on matchday fully aware of their roles in his plan, rather than remaining in suspense until the final hours.
Mourinho believes finalizing choices early helps alleviate matchday anxiety and provides both starters and substitutes with more time to mentally prepare for their roles, particularly in a squad filled with stars competing for playing time.
The Portuguese had already revealed this approach prior to the team’s league opener against Espanyol, stating during a press conference: “The players already know who will play; my way of working is not about hiding things.”
He added in those same statements: “I don’t want a single set starting lineup; I want to keep the door for competition open,” linking this to the dense schedule, the quality of available options, and the difficulty of relying on the same names throughout the entire season.
However, this openness does not mean he welcomes line-up leaks to competitors; he noted before the Málaga match: “If the starting lineup is not leaked, it is a positive feeling because it means the players and the rest of the staff haven’t talked,” while downplaying the impact of leaking a single player change that does not alter the overall tactical structure.
This coincides with additional information reported by Bernabéu Digital via Cortegana, indicating that Mourinho’s authority has helped stabilize the atmosphere—even if some players are unhappy with their limited minutes—and that the situation no longer carries the level of tension experienced last season.
The manager, who returned to Real Madrid following his first stint between 2010 and 2013, faces an important test of his methodology against Barcelona in El Clásico, where tactical choices carry heightened sensitivity and the need to keep both starters and bench options focused becomes paramount.
