Carragher spots Mourinho influence but says Real still lacking

Jamie Carragher praised Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Inter Milão on Tuesday but warned that, despite traces of José Mourinho», the side still does not reflect the Portuguese manager's signature style.

Carragher's take on the win

The victory came in the opening round of the Champions League group stage, giving the Merengues three points. Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, highlighted how the team capitalised on opponent mistakes, yet he argued that Mourinho still has work to get the attackers to help defensively.

Deeney on Mourinho's squad decisions

Troy Deeney, also an ex‑Liverpool player, noted Mourinho’s decision to remove Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé from the match, describing it as a powerful message to the rest of the squad. He said the gesture shows Mourinho can still win games while sacrificing two of the world’s biggest stars.

Both former players agree that Mourinho now faces the challenge of moulding Real Madrid around his own ideas while balancing a roster filled with global super‑stars. The contrast between the immediate result and the longer‑term tactical overhaul suggests that the club’s evolution under Mourinho is still in its early stages.