Madrid needed to find an answer

Federico Valverde revealed that a halftime instruction from José Mourinho proved decisive as Real Madrid turned a difficult game into a convincing 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. The Portuguese coach identified his team's problems winning the ball back and adjusted the press to change the course of the match.

Los Blancos had started with intensity and managed to take the lead, but lost some of their patience after the opening goal. Real Sociedad took advantage, found spaces and eventually equalized before halftime.

“I saw a team that was very focused and working with great enthusiasm. We worked very well, but we lacked some patience after scoring the first goal, which allowed them to equalize,” Valverde admitted after the game.

The answer came inside the locker room

The break gave Mourinho the opportunity to fix what wasn't working. His main instruction was to adjust the press and win the ball back much higher up the pitch, preventing Real Sociedad from playing out as comfortably.

“We talked about pressing because we were struggling to win the ball back in their half,” Valverde explained. “At certain moments, we were playing with one player fewer. We adjusted that and became more comfortable.”

The response was immediate. Madrid began operating much closer to the opposition's penalty area and took control of the game. “Our conversation with the coach at halftime helped us a lot, which is why the second half was excellent,” Valverde added.

And then Mbappé took over

The tactical shift created the perfect scenario for Kylian Mbappé. With Madrid recovering possession higher up the pitch and attacking more frequently, the Frenchman found the spaces he needed to punish Real Sociedad.

Mbappé completed a hat-trick and stole the spotlight at the Santiago Bernabéu. For Valverde, however, performances like this are becoming anything but surprising.

“He is amazing, unbelievable. We have to benefit from him as much as possible and pass him the ball so that he can score goals and feel happy. What he did today is something he has done many times throughout the year,” he said.

The first signs of Mourinho's new Madrid

The victory gave Mourinho's side their second consecutive LaLiga win, following a 2-1 victory away to Espanyol.

But perhaps the most encouraging sign was the team's ability to react. Madrid struggled during parts of the first half, Mourinho identified the problem and his players immediately translated the adjustment onto the pitch.

Next up is a meeting with newly promoted Málaga, where Real Madrid will look to make it three straight victories and continue building momentum under Mourinho.

3 Key Takeaways From Federico Valverde's Comments

• Madrid were struggling: Valverde admitted the team was having problems winning possession back in Real Sociedad's half and wasn't pressing effectively.
• Mourinho found the solution: the Portuguese coach adjusted the press at halftime and instructed Madrid to recover the ball higher up the pitch, a change that transformed the game.
• Mbappé is the weapon Madrid must exploit: Valverde believes the team needs to keep finding the Frenchman and take full advantage of his extraordinary goalscoring ability.

Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live for free on YouTube