Real Madrid face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and the timing could hardly be more awkward. The Spanish side are coming off their first defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis, while Inter arrive at the Bernabéu having just completed a comeback win over Napoli, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory. It is the first matchday of the competition, and the draw has served up one of the most difficult possible opponents for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Ivan Zamorano, who played for both clubs, has weighed in on the tie. The former striker spoke to Diario AS ahead of the game, and his focus was less on the immediate result and more on the broader direction of this Real Madrid team under Jose Mourinho. Zamorano sees a side still adjusting to a new manager's methods.
"They are in the process of Mourinho trying to maintain a little of what his footballing philosophy has always been, right? I've seen a lot of attacking intent in the first few matches, while also defending well," Zamorano said. "I think little by little the players are adapting to what the coach wants. Above all, I see a footballing transition that I find extremely interesting."
Zamorano is confident about the league campaign. He believes this squad has the depth to push for the title until the end. "Surely this year Real Madrid will be fighting for the title until the very end. I think they have a very good squad, with plenty of solutions in every position." He credited Mourinho for the early signs of structure. "Mourinho is already bringing a lot of order and concentration, and making them a team that works for one another."
The current squad, Zamorano noted, bears little resemblance to the one Mourinho managed in his first spell at the club. That does not concern him. "There's no doubt that this is a completely different team from the one he had during his first spell. But we already know that Mourinho has many ways of dealing with situations and a lot of wisdom to manage a championship with a team like Real Madrid. He knows its history, he knows the dressing room, he knows what it means and what responsibilities you have when you arrive at Madrid."
Zamorano added: "I can see that he has the strength to instil that mentality in the team, play well and try to stay at the very top. I'm an optimistic person, and I have a lot of faith that this can be a great year."
The defeat to Real Betis raised questions, particularly around Kylian Mbappe, who struggled on the night. Zamorano dismissed any concern. "Even if he occasionally has some less-than-great moments, Mbappé will always be a solution. He will always be a different kind of player, with goals and individual brilliance." He stressed the forward's importance across the season. "Mourinho and Real Madrid are going to need him enormously throughout the year. The World Cup he had was spectacular, and at the beginning of this league season I also see him very involved in what the team represents."
Zamorano continued: "He is always decisive. When you see that the team perhaps isn't performing at its level, he always appears, always steps up and always tries to make things better." On the Betis result itself, he was phlegmatic. "Against Betis, I don't think the team deserved to lose. The defeat was undeserved, but these things can happen, so there's no need to panic. Important matches are coming and they have to overcome it."
The conversation turned to Carlos Espi, the summer arrival who serves as Mbappe's deputy. Zamorano was struck by the profile of the player, a traditional centre-forward in a squad that has lacked one. "What I find strange about recent years is that Real Madrid haven't had a centre-forward, because they always had a traditional No. 9 who played in the box." He praised Espi's physical attributes. "Carlos represents that natural No. 9. He is 1.93 metres tall and has the physical presence to be a reference point and give the team a little more breathing room when they struggle to play out from the back."
Zamorano sees a specific role for the youngster. "He is an interesting player. He is very close to the goal, and that is fundamental for a team like Madrid. He can be a solution when teams sit very deep. He is a penalty-box player, he heads the ball very well and finishes very well. He already demonstrated that with the goal he scored the other day, even though it was disallowed."
On the Inter clash, Zamorano was measured about the challenge. "A difficult match. Inter are already a solid team. They know exactly how they want to play." He pointed to their consistency. "I think they have a very clearly defined style, enormous room for growth and two players for every position." He highlighted their recent form. "They have won all three of their Serie A matches convincingly. The last one particularly caught my attention. They were 0-2 down against a team with players of Napoli's quality, yet they could react. They will go to the Bernabéu to fight. They are not a team that sits deep when playing away from home; they play the same way everywhere."
Zamorano believes the game will be decided by fine margins. "It will be difficult for Madrid. Small details will decide the difference because both teams have a lot of individual quality. For me, I think we are going to see the best match of this first phase of the Champions League."
According to Yahoo Sports.
