Rabat – Real Madrid’s remarkable 4-3 comeback against Roma in the Champions League offered Jose Mourinho a memorable victory, but it also exposed problems the Portuguese coach has yet to resolve since returning to the Spanish club.
Madrid overturned a 3-1 deficit at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, October 14, scoring three goals in seven minutes through Carlos Espí, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger.
The victory secured their second consecutive Champions League win, following a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan. However, Madrid struggled for much of the match, particularly in midfield, before Mourinho’s substitutions changed the momentum.
The performance has renewed questions about the coach’s starting lineup and whether some of his established players should face greater competition for their places.
Mourinho faces difficult decisions over Madrid’s stars
Mourinho’s decision to replace Vinicius Junior with Endrick in the 59th minute proved important, with the young Brazilian contributing to Madrid’s comeback and scoring the equalizer.
Vinicius, who has struggled for consistency this season, appeared frustrated after being substituted. The winger had also been left out of the starting lineup against Villarreal and replaced during previous matches against Elche and Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe’s limited defensive contributions have raised further concerns about Madrid’s attacking balance.
The midfield has presented another challenge, with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni struggling to control possession and dictate the tempo against Roma.
Madrid appeared more effective after Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler entered the match, with Guler involved in all three late goals.
The performances of Endrick and Espí have also strengthened the case for giving younger players more opportunities, particularly as Madrid’s established attacking stars continue to struggle for consistency.
Mourinho defends his tactical approach
Despite the impact of his substitutions, Mourinho defended his decision to begin the match with a more conservative lineup.
Speaking after the victory, he argued that starting with the players who finished the match would have left Madrid vulnerable to Roma’s intensity.
The Portuguese coach explained that his decisions were based on managing different phases of the match rather than simply selecting his most attacking players.
He also acknowledged responsibility for Madrid’s difficult first half while crediting his players for their second-half response.
The comeback comes amid an inconsistent start to the domestic campaign.
Real Madrid sit fourth in LaLiga with 18 points, nine behind leaders Barcelona, although Mourinho’s side have a game in hand ahead of Sunday’s home fixture against Sevilla.
With El Clásico against Barcelona approaching on October 25, Mourinho faces growing pressure to find a more balanced starting lineup and turn Madrid’s European resilience into consistent performances across competitions.
