Jose Mourinho begins his second spell as Real Madrid manager this weekend with a trip to Espanyol, as the Portuguese coach starts his mission to restore Los Blancos to the top of Spanish football.
Sixteen years after first taking charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, Mourinho returns with a familiar objective: overthrow Barcelona and re-establish Real Madrid as Spain's dominant force.
The 63-year-old is also tasked with restoring the intensity, discipline and competitive edge that defined his first spell between 2010 and 2013. Two seasons without a major trophy ultimately convinced president Florentino Perez to turn to Mourinho once again.
Madrid have endured a turbulent period both on and off the pitch, with dressing-room tensions and a succession of coaches struggling to find the right balance.
Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa all faced the same challenge: accommodating Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham without leaving the team defensively vulnerable.
Mourinho's demanding approach could offer a solution. The challenge will be convincing Madrid's superstars to embrace greater defensive responsibility without diminishing their attacking threat.
Mourinho insists he has evolved since his first spell in the Spanish capital, having gained further experience across England, Italy, Turkey and elsewhere.
"I'm much more mature, less emotional, and more in control... as always, learning from mistakes," Mourinho said this week, although he insisted he had not become "more boring".
His message since returning to Madrid's Valdebebas training base has been clear.
"I am here... to create a culture of work, responsibility, ambition," Mourinho said, describing his return as a "mission".
Perez has backed Mourinho heavily in the transfer market as Madrid attempt to close the gap on Barcelona.
Los Blancos made Ivorian winger Yan Diomande their record signing in a €140 million ($163m) deal, while Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella were among several other high-profile arrivals.
However, questions remain over Madrid's midfield after they missed out on Rodri, who had been linked with the club before joining rivals Barcelona.
Diomande adds another elite attacking option to an already formidable frontline, but Silva could ultimately prove the more important addition when it comes to restoring balance.
Madrid have spent years attempting to replace the influence of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Their ability to dictate matches gave the team's attackers greater freedom while limiting opponents' opportunities to expose Madrid defensively.
Silva is not a direct replacement for either midfielder, but his technical ability and experience could provide Mourinho with a solution to a problem that has persisted since their departures.
Whether that will be enough against the strongest opponents — particularly Hansi Flick's back-to-back Spanish champions Barcelona — remains to be seen.
Mourinho's first Real Madrid spell was shaped by his fierce rivalry with Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, who were the dominant force in Spanish football at the time.
El Clasico became increasingly intense during Mourinho's tenure, with touchline confrontations, refereeing controversies and heated encounters adding another layer of hostility to one of football's greatest rivalries.
Mourinho eventually broke Barcelona's domestic dominance in the 2011-12 season, leading Real Madrid to the LaLiga title with a record 100 points.
His latest opportunity to face Barcelona will come in late October, when Madrid travel to meet their rivals in the first Clasico of the season.
Before then, Mourinho has around two months to impose his ideas, improve Madrid's fitness and turn a collection of world-class individuals into a cohesive team.
That process begins away to Espanyol on Saturday.
Thursday — All times GMT
Rayo Vallecano v Alaves — 7pm
Friday
Real Betis v Real Sociedad — 7pm
Saturday
Athletic Bilbao v Sevilla — 3pmValencia v Celta Vigo — 5:30pmEspanyol v Real Madrid — 7:30pm
Sunday
Atletico Madrid v Villarreal — 3pmGetafe v Racing Santander — 5:30pmElche v Barcelona — 7:30pm
Monday
Osasuna v Levante — 5:30pmMalaga v Deportivo La Coruna — 7:30pm
