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Mourinho has an Mbappe problem – and Zidane could show him the solution

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho will be watching intently as France boss Zinedine Zidane attempts to solve a puzzle with Kylian Mbappe that has so far defeated the Portuguese.

Published: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 3:03 PM
Mourinho has an Mbappe problem – and Zidane could show him the solution
Key Things to Know
  • Zinedine Zidane takes charge of France against Turkey in a Nations League match.
  • Zidane plans to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, shifting Kylian Mbappe to the left wing.
  • Ousmane Dembele is set to feature centrally in France's attacking setup.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho is dealing with tactical spacing issues between Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane prepares for his debut as France manager against Turkey in the Nations League, where he faces a similar challenge with Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

Zidane plans to use a 4-3-3 formation for France, shifting Mbappe from center-forward to his preferred left wing and placing Dembele through the middle. While this approach addresses tactical overlap for the national team, adopting a similar change at Real Madrid would present a difficult choice regarding Vinicius Junior.

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