Real Madrid have started their season as well as they have in recent years. They have scored 10 goals and conceded two in three games, and it looks like a streak that might continue.
There have been some brilliant performers for Real Madrid in these games - as well as in pre-season - and it looks like Jose Mourinho will do a really good job with them.
However, there are some others who have not played much, for one reason or the other, and they will have to up their game and attitude massively if they want to stay at Real Madrid beyond this season. Here are three such players.
Raul Asencio
Asencio was a name Real Madrid tried to sell in the summer transfer window. However, he got injured for a few weeks, which meant not many clubs were willing to take him away from the club. The more important reason for him to stay was that he absolutely did not want to leave.
According to reports from earlier this summer, Mourinho had made it clear to Asencio that he is not going to be an important player under his leadership, which already showed where he stood in Mourinho's mind.
Now, getting injured for a few weeks, with Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen already playing so well, Asencio's time at Real Madrid may be up soon. Antonio Rudiger is looking like a pretty solid option as a back-up, and Eder Militao is close to coming back to full fitness, which would mean that, at least for the time Militao is fit - which is hopefully for the whole season - Asencio would be Real Madrid's fifth-choice centre-back.
Eduardo Camavinga
Despite playing better football than he was last season, Camavinga also only has a few chances to succeed at Real Madrid. He has had a few seasons of pure stagnation, if not regression, and it is going to be crucial for the Frenchman to improve his standards. If he fails to do so, he might be out of a job soon.
Camavinga was praised by Mourinho after Real Madrid's win over Malaga, but it is worth noting that there were so many lapses in concentration that saw Camavinga give the ball away, or give away a cheap foul. Those mistakes could easily lead to a goal for the opposition, and they could also happen against a big team. Camavinga has to be wary.
Rodrygo
We could have put Ferland Mendy in this discussion, but it is clear to everyone that he is not really going to play anyway.
It is harsh to kick a man while he is down, but Rodrygo may only get a few chances to prove his worth after he comes back from his ACL injury. Vinicius Junior is obviously holding down the left-wing spot, and Yan Diomande has shown that he can play there if, for some reason, Vini is unable to.
If Rodrygo does not perform well off the bat, Mourinho may start preferring Diomande on the left, and putting Endrick or Brahim on the right, rather than Rodrygo. It is worth noting that even before the injury, Rodrygo was not playing good football by any means, which is exactly why he is on this list.
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