The stage is set at the Santiago Bernabéu for an intriguing tactical question: can José Mourinho recreate the transformation he achieved with Frank Lampard at Chelsea with Real Madrid midfield star Jude Bellingham?
"The Special One" is back in a top-flight dugout, putting the spotlight on how he could shape his star-studded Real Madrid squad, particularly following the arrival of Kylian Mbappé. For Madrid fans, the biggest question is whether Bellingham can rediscover the prolific scoring form he showed during his breakthrough season under Mourinho's guidance.
Key Points:
- José Mourinho famously helped Frank Lampard become a prolific goal-scorer at Chelsea.
- Jude Bellingham delivered a stunning 23 goals in his debut Real Madrid season.
- The arrival of Kylian Mbappé creates a tactical puzzle for Bellingham's optimal role.
- Former Blancos star Steve McManaman weighs in on the midfield conundrum.
Mourinho's Midas Touch: Forging a Chelsea Legend
When José Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in 2004, famously introducing himself as "The Special One", he inherited a talented squad that included a young Frank Lampard. Under Mourinho's guidance, Lampard developed into one of the most dangerous goalscoring midfielders in world football.
Lampard scored an impressive 19 goals during Mourinho's first season in charge. He then surpassed the 20-goal mark in each of the next five seasons, eventually finishing his Chelsea career with an incredible 211 goals in 648 appearances.
Bellingham's Bernabéu Brilliance & The Mbappé Equation
A Blazing Start, Then a Dip
Fast forward to 2023, and Jude Bellingham immediately drew comparisons with Lampard after making a sensational start at Real Madrid. The Birmingham academy graduate scored an astonishing 23 goals in his debut season, helping Madrid win both La Liga and the Champions League.
His numbers then dipped to eight goals last season during an injury-hit campaign. However, Bellingham bounced back on the international stage, scoring seven goals at the 2026 World Cup. Now working under José Mourinho, the 23-year-old is expected to play a prominent role as the Portuguese coach looks to unlock his attacking qualities.
The Tactical Conundrum with Real Madrid's New Stars
The arrival of Kylian Mbappé has added another layer to Bellingham's tactical puzzle. With Mbappé, Vinicius Jr. and Yan Diomande all expected to feature prominently, Mourinho must find a system that gets the best out of his attacking stars while leaving enough space for Bellingham to operate in advanced areas.
Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman believes that could be the biggest challenge facing Mourinho. Speaking to GOAL, he pointed out that both Mbappé and Vinicius naturally drift towards the left and neither is a traditional No. 9.
That could create an opportunity for Bellingham to make his trademark late runs into the box. His energy, timing and ability to arrive in the final third were key elements of his 23-goal debut campaign, and McManaman believes those qualities could once again make him a major scoring threat.
The presence of Yan Diomande could also add another dimension, particularly with his ability to deliver crosses into the box. McManaman questioned who would attack those deliveries, given that neither Mbappé nor Vinicius is particularly dominant in the air.
McManaman's Verdict: Can Bellingham Become Lampard 2.0?
McManaman believes Bellingham has already shown he can produce a Lampard-like impact from midfield, but whether he can repeat that success under Mourinho remains to be seen. "I think he did that in his first year, didn't he?"
McManaman highlighted how Bellingham's role changed after Mbappé arrived, with the England star dropping deeper and subsequently seeing his goalscoring numbers fall. The question now is whether Mourinho will restore him to a more advanced position.
For Bellingham, the objective is clear: rediscover the attacking impact that made his first season at the Santiago Bernabéu so spectacular. With Real Madrid aiming to reclaim domestic dominance from Barcelona and chase a record-extending 16th European Cup, they will need their midfield star back among the goals.
Real will be hoping Bellingham can return to double figures at the very least—and perhaps push towards 20 goals once again. If Mourinho can recreate the kind of transformation he achieved with Lampard, Bellingham could become one of the defining players of Madrid's 2026-27 campaign.
