Real Madrid legend sings the praises of Mourinho's policy: 'Deberes' and the art of dressing-room governance

Legend Jorge Valdano has offered high praise for Jose Mourinho just before the Real Betis match in Round 4 of La Liga. But what he stressed was not goals, not extravagant tactics, but what he called the "duties" of each player. During an appearance on Movistar, Valdano said: "I have the impression Mourinho is working very effectively on the duties of the players. The talent is there, but if the duties are worked on properly, Real Madrid will find it easier to maintain concentration throughout the match." That remark comes from a man who once wore the Real Madrid shirt and later held the role of sporting director. Therefore, it is not ordinary diplomatic praise. Valdano did not stop at the concept. He described the football he saw in Real Madrid at that time: "Starting from the pressing, everyone looked more connected and more inspired." The former Argentine striker did not speak about possession percentages, nor did he mention Cristiano Ronaldo's wonder goals. He chose a different angle: discipline and cohesion from the first pressing line. For someone who had been sporting director, that was the real sign that Mourinho was intervening in the right part of the team. The context of the praise is also special. Real Madrid went into Round 4 of La Liga with a perfect record. Opponent Real Betis at La Cartuja on Friday evening were considered tough. Mourinho arrived at the pre-match press conference and demanded professionalism and desire from his players, knowing that a victory would preserve the perfect run. But what caught the attention of observers even more was his statement about rotating the squad. He said: "We cannot start a match with 14 or 15 players." For Mourinho, a thin squad was not an excuse but a reality to solve through a man-management policy. "Deberes" – the Spanish word for homework – was used by Valdano to describe Mourinho's method. At Real Madrid in that period, "deberes" did not mean exercises on the training ground but individual tactical duties: forwards had to track back when the team lost the ball, midfielders had to cover for full-backs when they pushed forward, the number 10 had to choose his position so the press was not bypassed. Mourinho did not need to invent a new formation. He needed the stars to accept restricted roles for the collective good. Valdano understood that when he said: "The talent is there, but if the duties are done, maintaining concentration throughout the match becomes easier." From a tactical perspective, Mourinho's Real Madrid did not play the possession-based football of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. They pressed vertically, quickly and toward transition. The squad had Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria – players with great offensive ability but also known for their attacking instincts. Making them participate in the defensive phase was a psychological task as much as a tactical one. Valdano saw that through the way "everyone looked more connected from the pressing." That was a sign that Mourinho was not only teaching them movement but also teaching them to believe in their duties. Another noteworthy point is that Valdano's praise came after a 2-1 win over Espanyol. It was a victory but not a convincing one, and Mourinho repeated his message about duties. He said: "If someone does not work or loses motivation, it is very easy for me to keep them out of the squad." That sentence revealed a firm management policy: players who do not complete their duties will not have a starting spot, no matter how big their name is. In a club like Real Madrid, where the dressing room always has big egos, that message was both a warning and a way for Mourinho to establish authority. Mourinho's rotation should also be understood in the context of a team competing in four competitions: La Liga, Copa del Rey, the Champions League and the Supercopa. Mourinho said: "We cannot do that with 10, 11, 12 or 15 players. We need this squad, because we have to take four competitions seriously." This was not an empty statement. It reflected the reality that Real Madrid's pressing intensity could only be sustained if there were enough players to rotate. Those who considered Mourinho's changes to the lineup a failure missed the tactical depth behind every decision. What makes Valdano's praise more significant is the history between the two men. Valdano was sporting director of Real Madrid during the early part of Florentino Perez's presidency. His presence and influence were gradually reduced by Mourinho before he left his position in 2026. When someone once regarded as a "counterweight" to Mourinho publicly praised his methods, observers had to ask: was this genuine professional respect or a way for Valdano to build his image after leaving his executive role? Whatever the answer, his praise gave Mourinho more cover against doubts about rotation. Based on the matches I watched during this period, Real Madrid won many games through moments of individual brilliance from Ronaldo or Benzema rather than through complete dominance. The 2-1 win over Espanyol is a clear example: the result correctly reflected three points but not a superior performance. When a team has a perfect record but the wins are narrow, analysts often point to luck or individual quality. Valdano, with his inside perspective, chose to look at the process rather than the result. That made his praise more valuable than an ordinary commentary piece. The pressure of a perfect run was also a problem Mourinho had to manage. As the season went on, the three points in each round would increasingly create a "cannot slip" mentality. That could easily lead to overusing key players to protect the run, unintentionally ruining the rotation policy. Mourinho seemed aware of this risk. His public demand for professionalism from all players, not just the starting eleven, was the way he laid the foundation for a long season. He could not afford to have bench players lose motivation because they would be the ones who decided whether the team could survive a congested calendar. If there is one blind spot in the story that most articles of the time ignored, it is that Valdano's praise of Mourinho was not just a coincidence. In top-level football, applause from the boardroom can be more important than applause from the stands. Valdano no longer had executive power at Real Madrid, but his authority still carried weight with supporters. When such a figure publicly endorsed Mourinho's methods, the message reached both the skeptical fans and the players uncertain about their roles. That is a layer of impact that tactical data cannot measure. So the biggest question is not whether Real Madrid will keep their winning run. The biggest question is whether Mourinho's duty-based policy can survive the first defeat. Valdano can speak out sincerely while the team is winning, but the order in the Real Madrid dressing room has never been tested by beautiful matches. It is tested on the worst days – when the fixture list piles up, when injuries appear and when stars start to wonder if their duties are worth their reputations. Mourinho's policy may be working well now, but history will judge it through the stormiest months of the season, and Valdano's praise is only a light touch before the long storm.