Real Madrid's Champions League campaign is up and running, but the manner of Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Inter at the Bernabeu raised as many questions as it answered. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring and equalled Raul's all-time Champions League goalscoring record in the process, yet the win was far from comfortable. Inter pulled one back in the second half, and Federico Valverde publicly admitted that several players ignored Mourinho's tactical instructions during that difficult period. Jude Bellingham was equally candid, blaming himself for missed chances that could have made the result more convincing.

Mourinho, typically, framed the victory as proof of his side's character under pressure, but the cracks in this squad are visible. Trent Alexander-Arnold was deployed as a midfielder in what the manager described as a forced experiment, and Mourinho's verdict on that role was notably blunt. Off the pitch, Thibaut Courtois has withdrawn from Belgium's Nations League campaign following talks with coach Mark van Bommel, adding to a congested injury and availability list.

There is also a simmering tension around Vinicius Junior, who was booed by sections of the Bernabeu crowd before being substituted. Mourinho defended him publicly, insisting the Brazilian was not at his best rather than out of form.

Real Madrid sit third in LaLiga with nine points from four games, and they host Rayo Vallecano on September 12 as domestic and European demands begin to stack up.