In the build-up to the return of La Liga action, former Real Madrid winger turned La Liga ambassador and ESPN pundit Steve McManaman spoke at a press conference to address the changes at the Bernabéu this summer and the expectations on Jose Mourinho.
“He needs to win. It’s as simple as that. He needs to beat Barcelona. He needs to win the league. I don’t necessarily think he needs to win the Champions League, but I certainly think he needs to finish above Barcelona,” McManaman said.
“He’s been brought in because the last two years have been disappointing. Real Madrid can’t go three years without winning anything. And your nearest and dearest rivals are in Barcelona winning everything. So Jose has to hit the ground running and he has to be successful straight away. That’s what he’s being brought in for.”
McManaman on playing in a similarly talented Real Madrid squad of Galácticos
“When we won all those titles with the names you mentioned, we had an incredible number six in Claude Makélélé who really helped the midfield… Real Madrid this year have tried to rectify that. I think they were weak defensively last year. He was the most important player in our team. Forget about Figo, Zidane, Raúl, Ronaldo. Zidane said the most important player was Makélélé.”
McManaman on Vinícius’ contract renewal
“To be very honest, I never ever thought he would leave Real Madrid. I really didn’t. I know there was a lot of stories in the English newspapers about Arsenal, but if you see Vinícius Júnior at Madrid, I thought most people think he was never going to leave. I don’t think he was ever going to go to Saudi Arabia. That didn’t make any sense at all for me. So his home is Madrid. I’m glad he signed a new six-year contract… The most important thing is for Vini and for Kylian to play in the same team, but each finds a role where they’re very comfortable in, and drive Madrid forward.”
McManaman on how Mourinho will balance the midfield
“The answer is I don’t know, because it’s hard to balance them out. It’s hard to balance that many people out. And more importantly, it’s going to be really difficult to keep them happy… So who’s going to take it? Jude Bellingham will be one. They need a number six in there… It’s a huge balancing act for Jose Mourinho, and that’s why he’s there. It’s going to be really interesting to see who the starting three are, who his strongest team is, who he really trusts.”
McManaman on Trent Alexander-Arnold
“I think Trent Alexander-Arnold will be absolutely fine. I think he had a couple of injury problems last year at Real Madrid, but he never went to the World Cup, he was unhappy about that, but he’s had a really good summer off.”
McManaman on locker room dynamics
“I think it’s all down to the players, how they control themselves, how they are on the training ground. The players I played with, even though a lot of them were household names and Ballon d’Or winners, they were incredibly professional when they got to the dressing room, and they were even more professional when they come to playing the game. So I hope Vini and the players will police themselves, will be extremely professional, because they’re big players and they have to show an example to the younger players. The question is Jose Mourinho’s been brought in, and one of those reasons was I think because Florentino Pérez thought the players needed to be controlled. So whether Jose will instill a little bit of authority into the dressing room, I think he will, and I think the players should listen. The players want to be successful and they have to be successful, it’s as simple as that. The fact that they’ve gone two years not winning anything, they can’t have three.”
McManaman on transfer business
“Diomande is going to come in as the big signing, of course he is. But you know, 20 months ago he was playing for Leganés. So I think we need to temper our enthusiasm about how good he is. This is his first year at the Bernabéu and it’ll be difficult for him. There’ll be lots of comparing and contrasting with Lamine Yamal, but of course Lamine Yamal is quite exceptional, and he’s won everything already and is incredibly experienced. So I think people just want to sit and watch his moment. I think the fact that three defenders came in screams that they needed some defensive stability, and that’s what Jose wanted first and foremost. If you have Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Kylian, and Vini, you know you are going to score goals, but keeping them out at the back is Mourinho’s priority, and that’s where they’ve strengthened.”
McManaman on Real Madrid’s stand-out signing
“I think Cucurella will come in and do really well because, as you know, Real Madrid have tried for a long time to replace Mendy… Last year they spent a lot of money on Álvaro Carreras and it never went particularly well for any of those left-backs. Mendy you can see is probably the number one left-back, but his fitness troubles still exist. So Cucurella coming in after the World Cup I think will help them.”