Raul Asencio: Mourinho will bring 'anger and grit' back to Real Madrid

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has expressed immense enthusiasm regarding the return of Jose Mourinho as the club's new manager. The 23-year-old believes the Portuguese coach will reintroduce the competitive "anger and grit" that defined his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2010 and 2013.

Reflecting on Mourinho's previous tenure, Asencio noted that the manager fundamentally altered the club's DNA. The defender stated that the coach's ability to demand constant competitiveness shaped his own identity as a player. He believes that with Mourinho back at the helm, the team is fully capable of recreating the dominance seen during the historic 2011/12 campaign, when the club recorded 100 points and 121 goals in La Liga.

I was small, and I saw it – how he changed the team, the competitiveness he introduced into the club, the anger and the grit... I think those are characteristics that make me who I am as a player. Raul Asencio

Beyond the managerial change, Asencio touched upon the club's active transfer strategy. He spoke highly of Bernardo Silva, who is reportedly set to join the Spanish giants from Manchester City. Asencio emphasized that such a signing would represent a significant leap in quality for the squad's midfield creativity.

For Asencio, working under a high-profile figure like Mourinho is a career-defining opportunity. He noted that the atmosphere surrounding the club has already shifted, and he is eager to prove himself under the veteran manager's new project.