Mourinho says Real Madrid’s top stars can play together

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says it will be hard to find the "perfect set-up" to fit Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham into the same team, but insists the trio are not "incompatible"

After last season was overshadowed by chaos, amid fan unrest and allegations of players fighting at the Bernabeu, Mourinho will need all three of his stars if Los Blancos want to reclaim the Spanish title from a Barcelona team who have won the past two.

However, the 63‑year‑old, whose return to Real for a second stint in charge was confirmed in June, admitted he faces a "difficult" task in fitting all three players into the same starting eleven.

Speaking to the media before Real's La Liga opener against Espanyol on Saturday, Mourinho said: "They are incredible players and incredible players want to play with incredible players. Top players have frustration when they play with teammates who are not top.

"The best want to play with the best. After the tactical adjustments, it might be a little bit more difficult," he added.

Before facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final last season, Jude Bellingham said "it can be difficult" to be at his individual best when he, Mbappe and Vinicius are all on the pitch together.

"It's difficult, because I still feel like there have been many games where we've mixed really well," Bellingham said when asked about combining with his star team-mates. It can be difficult when we're all on the same side. We're fluid, we have freedom to move around, at times that can disorganise a bit, but with both of them, you have to trust in their ability."

Mourinho said England's Bellingham, France's Mbappe and Brazil's Vinicius all played in "perfect" roles for their countries during the World Cup, but admitted replicating that in Madrid this season will be a tougher task.

"It's harder for Mourinho to find the perfect set-up for all three. It's harder. But here we are. I want all three of them to feel comfortable on the field together," he said.

"I'm very confident that you'll say it's great when the three play together because they're high-quality players, and I don't think their positions are incompatible either. I'm very confident that we're going to have a great season with them."