Real Madrid are back to winning ways in LaLiga after a 3-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu, a result that lifts them to fourth in the table with nine points from four games. The win provides welcome relief after a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis had interrupted their early-season momentum, and it sets up what promises to be a defining week for Jose Mourinho's side.

Yet results alone do not tell the full story of where this club stands right now. Mourinho is managing a squad that has shown both quality and fragility in the same breath. Federico Valverde publicly admitted that players ignored tactical instructions during the second half of their Champions League win over Inter Milan, a candid confession that raised questions about dressing room discipline. Mourinho addressed the issue directly, insisting he had not needed to intervene in any feud between Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, but the episode has kept scrutiny on the manager's grip over his group.

On a more positive note, Thibaut Courtois has been in outstanding form and Real Madrid are moving quickly to offer him a contract extension, a signal of genuine confidence in the goalkeeper's long-term future at the club. Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, was named Player of the Month for August by supporters and has spoken warmly about Mourinho's intelligence, suggesting the relationship between coach and star player is in a healthy place. The Madrid derby against Atletico now looms as the next major test of how far this squad has come.