Huijsen becomes pessimistic

Huijsen shows maturity and improved mentality under Mourinho, committing no fouls against Barcelona while delivering 492 accurate passes in eight league games.

Dean Huijsen is undergoing a significant mental transformation at Real Madrid under José Mourinho's guidance. The 21-year-old defender, who was excluded from Spain's World Cup squad and struggled with confidence last season, has worked intensively on his psychological resilience during the off-season, including training sessions in Bali and Marbella.

Mourinho initially had concerns about Huijsen's defensive mentality, viewing him as overly optimistic compared to his preference for more cautious defenders. However, the young centre-back has steadily raised his level of self-demand and concentration. His transformation became particularly evident after Real Madrid's defeat to Betis, and he has continued to progress despite receiving a red card in the derby against Atlético Madrid.

On the pitch, the improvement is clear. Against Barcelona, Huijsen committed no fouls and has accumulated 492 accurate passes from 516 attempts across eight league matches, averaging 61.5 successful deliveries per game. Mourinho has entrusted him with ball-playing responsibilities from the back, and those close to the club describe his development as an ongoing process of maturation and normalization that is yielding visible results in his attitude and performance.