That is a headline no Real Madrid fan expected to read in 2026, but it has never been truer.
Sami Khedira, a former hero of Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, who now works under the manager as one of his assistant coaches, has been a brilliant addition to the team so far.
Khedira joined the Real Madrid coaching staff to become the linking pin between the players and the coaches and higher-ups at the club, while also trying to manage some of the relationships at the club.
He is also, according to Mourinho, tasked with handling the set pieces, along with another coach from the staff, where he looks to have done a brilliant job.
He said, in a recent interview: "Khedira and Pedro, they work on defensive and offensive set pieces, it gives me a great feeling, for them too. Konaté almost scored one as well. We scored few goals from set pieces last season, we have to score more.”
Sami Khedira helps Real Madrid players on the pitch as well as off it
In every game so far, Real Madrid have looked more dangerous with set pieces than they were last season. Fans have seen the team carry out new tactics, with lots of movement inside the box, different types of deliveries, which has been a breath of fresh air. But that is not all that Khedira helps with.
Mourinho also wanted Khedira at the club because he wanted someone who knew how it works at Real Madrid. A former player who has won it all is a brilliant addition to a coaching staff for a team like Real Madrid. He wanted someone in his staff who was charismatic, and had a strong presence in the dressing room.
Being a former player who has achieved what most of these players want to achieve, Khedira has a lot of value that he can provide to Real Madrid. This group of players can learn a lot from the German. He has played with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale, so he has some idea of how things work at the club and how to best manage some of the biggest egos in the dressing room.
There has been no information revealed on that front, but things look to be more cohesive this season than they were last time around. The team looks like every player is playing for someone else, which is good. It also seems like these players are spending lots of time with each other, which is something that has been needed at the club for quite some time.
With Mourinho and Khedira, there is a lot of experience in being around big locker rooms like the one Real Madrid have at the moment, and having the German around for it is going to be brilliant. If Real Madrid are to win anything this season, it seems like Khedira would have a lot to do with it.
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