The ex-Blackburn winger facing Mourinho and Madrid

Dolan played 38 games for Espanyol last season across La Liga and the Copa del Rey

Tyrhys Dolan, who played for Blackburn Rovers for five years before joining Espanyol last summer, says he is ready to take on one of the biggest tests of his career when Real Madrid visit the RCDE Stadium on Saturday (20:30 BST).

The Manchester-born winger began his second season in Spain in impressive fashion, scoring in Espanyol’s 3-0 victory over Levante on the opening weekend.

Now he faces a very different challenge, with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid arriving in Barcelona for their first match of the season.

Dolan, 24, insists Espanyol will not allow the occasion to change their approach.

“These are the games you want to be playing in,” he said. “They’re the games the supporters want to watch and all eyes will be on it.

“Jose Mourinho has legendary status as a manager. He’s got that mentality that he wants to win every single game.

“They’re not going to come out and treat it as an easy game against us. They’re going to bring their best.”

Dolan also knows he could share the pitch with fellow English players Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there will be little room for catching up before kick-off.

“When it’s business, it’s business,” he said.

“It’s nice to be playing against top talents and other English players. It’s great to see. We’ll catch up after the game but all focus will be on getting three points.”

But despite the glamour surrounding Real Madrid, Dolan believes the key is to avoid making the occasion bigger than it needs to be.

“You don’t want to try and build a game up too much because then, when you get there, all the emotions can kind of eat you up,” he said.

Instead, he plans to stick to the routine that has served him successfully since moving to Spain.

“You focus on yourself as best as you can and make sure that you’re prepared as well as you can,” he said. “I like to stay within the same routine and headspace.”

That approach reflects how much Dolan has changed since leaving the English Championship for Espanyol.

The winger admits his first season in Spain was as much a personal challenge as a footballing one. Moving away from family and friends, adapting to a new culture and learning a new language forced him to become more self-reliant.

“It’s definitely matured me so much, off the pitch and on it too,” he said.

On the field, Dolan believes the standard of La Liga has accelerated his development. He says his decision-making has improved significantly, while his crossing and ability to provide different types of assists have also progressed.

“I’ve learned and added so many tools to my trade since making the move to Espanyol,” he said.

Having made more than 30 appearances last season, Dolan now feels the weight of expectation has changed.

“I feel much more responsibility within the team this year,” he said. “I feel like I am one of the players who is going to get it done.”

“When you join, everything is new to you and you don’t really know how to handle it. You just kind of roll with it.

“But now I know exactly what I’m doing heading into this season. I’ve got my home here, I’ve got my solid fanbase, I’ve got team-mates that are now friends for me. It’s not just strangers that you’re playing with at the start.”

That confidence was evident against Levante, when Dolan’s goal helped Espanyol to an opening-weekend win.

The victory has given the squad belief for Real’s visit, but Dolan knows the level required will rise sharply.

“We can’t afford to make as many mistakes because Real Madrid will capitalise on it,” he said.

For Espanyol, however, the game represents more than simply an opportunity to face one of Europe’s biggest clubs - as they have their own ambitions.

“I think we can really be in those top-six positions,” Dolan said. “We want to aim as high as we can.”

And there is a personal edge to Saturday’s occasion with many of Dolan’s family and friends in the stands.

“I’m trying to keep the numbers to a respectable amount and not taking too many tickets off of the [other] players,” he said. “But all my family and friends are buzzing.

“We’re really looking forward to it and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Mbappe not incompatible - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho says Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe are not “incompatible” together in a team.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says it will be hard to find the “perfect set-up” to fit Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham into the same team, but insists the trio are not “incompatible”.

After last season was overshadowed by chaos, amid fan unrest and allegations of players fighting at the Bernabeu, Mourinho will need all three of his stars if Los Blancos want to reclaim the Spanish title from a Barcelona team who have won the past two.

However, the 63-year-old, whose return to Real for a second stint in charge was confirmed in June, admitted he faces a “difficult” task in fitting all three players into the same starting eleven.

Speaking to the media before Real’s La Liga opener against Espanyol on Saturday, Mourinho said: “They are incredible players and incredible players want to play with incredible players. Top players have frustration when they play with teammates who are not top.

“The best want to play with the best. After the tactical adjustments, it might be a little bit more difficult,” he added.

Before facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final last season, Jude Bellingham said “it can be difficult” to be at his individual best when he, Mbappe and Vinicius are all on the pitch together.

“It’s difficult, because I still feel like there have been many games where we’ve mixed really well,” Bellingham said when asked about combining with his star team-mates.

“It can be difficult when we’re all on the same side. We’re fluid, we have freedom to move around, at times that can disorganise a bit, but with both of them, you have to trust in their ability.”

Mourinho said England’s Bellingham, France’s Mbappe and Brazil’s Vinicius all played in “perfect” roles for their countries during the World Cup, but admitted replicating that in Madrid this season will be a tougher task.

“It’s harder for Mourinho to find the perfect set-up for all three. It’s harder. But here we are. I want all three of them to feel comfortable on the field together,” he said.

“I’m very confident that you’ll say it’s great when the three play together because they’re high-quality players, and I don’t think their positions are incompatible either.

“I’m very confident that we’re going to have a great season with them.”

With a frontline consisting of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, goals should not be difficult to find.

And individually, they were not last season. Mbappe scored 42 times in all competitions, while Vinicius contributed 22.

The bigger issue has been how the pieces fit together.

In 2024-25, Mbappe led the line with Vinicius operating from the left, but both frequently drifted towards the same areas. Last season, the attack became even more fluid, with Jude Bellingham dropping deeper to help balance the side, but that reduced his influence closer to goal and did not fully solve the spacing problems ahead of him.

That presents Jose Mourinho with one of his biggest tactical puzzles.

Mbappe, who arrives back from the World Cup having scored 10 goals for France, is at his most dangerous attacking the space behind a defensive line.

Vinicius, meanwhile, remains most effective starting from the left, where he can isolate defenders and attack one against one.

Creating clearer separation between the pair could also allow Bellingham to move closer to goal again.

The England midfielder scored eight goals and supplied five assists in 40 appearances for Madrid last season, a considerable drop from the 23 goals and 13 assists he produced during his first campaign at the Bernabeu.

At the World Cup, England head coach Thomas Tuchel used Bellingham predominantly as a number 10 behind Harry Kane. He responded with seven goals in eight appearances, having operated in an advanced role for 71% of his minutes, compared with only 28% in La Liga last season.

Mourinho has previously shown he can accommodate several elite attackers. His 2011-12 Madrid side, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain, scored a La Liga record 121 goals in 38 matches.

And this time, there is another option.

Madrid have made 19-year-old Yan Diomande a statement signing after his breakthrough at RB Leipzig. Only Lamine Yamal completed more dribbles across Europe’s top five leagues last season than the Ivory Coast winger’s 118.

He also offers something without the ball. Diomande won possession in the opposition final third 27 times, a total bettered by only nine players across those leagues.

The challenge for Mourinho is therefore unlikely to be finding enough attacking quality. It will be giving that quality enough structure to flourish.

Whatever solution Mourinho finds to fit all three into his team, he knows he has to deliver success after two turbulent seasons, three failed managers and no trophies.

In his previous spell in charge of Real between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

“We need to be a team, work well, and not try to negotiate things that are non-negotiable. Commitment has to be present every minute of every match,” said Mourinho.

“We have to overcome moments of frustration that will come from a negative result or personal frustration.”

Those comments come after Mourinho arrived at the club with a number of issues to address, including the relationship between midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, who clashed last season in a dressing-room row which ended with the Uruguay midfielder being taken to hospital with a head injury.

Real said the pair had “apologised to each other, the club and their team-mates” and been fined 500,000 euros (£432,037.50) each.

“I arrived with a lot of information. I’ve been here for three years and have my base contacts,” said Mourinho.

“I’ve come to know many things, not just the situation that occurred between Tchouameni and Federico [Valverde]. But I decided to start from scratch.

“What I’ve seen isn’t about peace - it’s about normality, friendship, and cooperation. It’s as if nothing ever happened.”

Break-up of Villa's Europa heroes leaves cracks for Emery to fill

Aston Villa’s European heroes are already part of history.

They ended a 30-year wait for a trophy by lifting the Europa League in May against Freiburg but the club could have sold six of the starting XI by the end of the transfer window.

Ezri Konsa’s imminent £51m departure to Arsenal is the latest high-profile exit at Villa Park this summer as Unai Emery’s squad undergoes drastic change.

Istanbul goalscorers Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers left last month, Rogers’ £117m move to Chelsea a record for an English player.

Lucas Digne was sold to Paris St-Germain and Villa must also find a solution for goalkeeper Emi Martinez after his failed move to Juventus and the signing of his replacement - Zion Suzuki.

Al-Hilal may also test Villa’s resolve again before the 1 September transfer deadline for Ollie Watkins, with the Premier League club reportedly tabling a new contract to try to keep the striker.

That would leave Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelof, John McGinn and Emi Buendia as those who remain from the 11 that started in Istanbul.

Like many, Villa are a selling club, mainly due to necessity, and have been for a number of years.

They must comply with Uefa’s squad cost ratio (SCR) which restricts them to spending 70% of their football related revenue on player and staff wages, transfer fees and agent fees.

They have already been fined twice by Uefa for breaches, being hit with a £9.5m sanction last year and a £19.4m fine in June, although £12.9m was suspended after Villa came to a settlement agreement with Europe’s governing body. But it has meant the club’s hands are tied in the transfer window.

The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) also limited financial losses to a maximum of £105 million over a rolling three-year period.

In their latest accounts, ending 30 June 2025, Villa had a post-tax profit of £17m but their two previous years showed losses of £119.6m (2023) and £85.4m (2024).

The regulations have now been replaced by SCR, which sees the Premier League fall in line with Uefa’s model.

“It’s necessity because of the rules,” one former Villa executive told BBC Sport, when asked about the sales. “The PSR, the SCR, issues are well documented.”

“It does seem slightly unfair they’re having their ambition capped at this level. But it has forced this very big churn of players, which is unfortunate.”

“Some will be forced due to PSR, some will be player demand. Combined it makes a big problem for Emery and certainly it is a lot to swallow in one go and to try and replace.”

This summer has crystalised their situation further because of the high profile nature of the departures.

Villa had raised just over £200m with the sales of Jhon Duran (£71m), Douglas Luiz (£42.5m), Jacob Ramsey (£40m) and Moussa Diaby (£50m) over the past two years.

This window will see them bank, once the Konsa deal goes through, around £212m, including £9m for Lewis Dobbin who never played a senior game for Villa before leaving for Southampton.

The academy has also paid its way comfortably with Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer being bought back to be sold again, while Burnley spent £12m on Aaron Ramsey in 2023.

Internally, when Villa first returned to the Champions League in 2024, it was recognised it would be harder for academy prospects to break into the squad which left Villa more open to selling them.

Last summer their gross transfer spend was £71m which was dwarfed by Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal who were all over £200m while Wolves, who finished bottom last season, were £109m.

It justifies Emery’s argument Villa are not part of the elite, especially when they spent months working on a deal for Conor Gallagher only for Tottenham to be the ones to step in and buy him in January.

Rogers’ £117m move to Chelsea this summer was the easiest way for Villa to comply with Uefa’s financial rules.

The plan came after their first fine last year and under it they must break even in 2026-27.

Their run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2024-25 banked them close to £70m and the main reason they managed to turn a profit in the latest accounts.

Winning the Europa League means Villa guaranteed themselves around £45.6m, which includes the minimum earned for qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Despite the departures optimism remains. Last week’s battling Super Cup defeat in Salzburg to Paris St-Germain still showed Villa’s competitiveness and Emery’s powers of adaptability.

Emery has constantly needed to roll with the punches during his three-and-a-half years in charge but he has consistently improved Villa, having taken over when they were 14th following Steven Gerrard’s reign.

In Austria, skipper John McGinn pointed to the fact they still have Emery while others - Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea - have new managers and that Villa’s structure remains intact.

“We have a structure in place, standards and rules which have made us a success. I am really excited about the new Aston Villa,” said McGinn.

That includes Brian Madjo after Villa won their battle with Fifa to register the 17-year-old earlier this month.

The striker scored on his debut against PSG, eight months after initially signing from Metz for £10m, and could prove one of the surprises of the season.

The drive towards younger players comes after Roberto Olabe replaced Monchi last September as president of football operations with a long-to-mid term directive on transfers.

Midfielder Joao Gomes, 25, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, 23 and defender Matteo Ruggeri, 24, have joined this summer after 20-year-old Johan Manzambi became the club’s record buy in July.

They have also had an £18m bid rejected for 24-year-old Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The loan signing, with an obligation to buy, of Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea allows Villa to spread the cost while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is due to move from West Ham on a similar deal.

“The problem is they may now be at the end of a chain of transfer deals, with the players involved and their transfer targets dependent on other moves happening first,” said the former Villa decision-maker.

Above all, though, Emery remains Villa’s biggest asset and he has overhauled them before. This time it would be one of his biggest achievements.

“There’s a lot of hope and ambition resting with the manager,” said the ex-Villa Park executive.

“He’s the ace card they’ve got left and everybody’s hoping with his experience and knowledge they can pull through.”

“It’s a lot of pressure on him and you’ve got to wonder if he’s trying to think ‘maybe I need to go somewhere else with more resources?’”

“I don’t think it’ll be this season but, at some stage as a manager, you get fed up juggling all those demands.”

Fleetwood sign Bristol City midfielder Murphy

Fleetwood Town have signed Bristol City midfielder Adam Murphy on a six-month loan deal.

Murphy, 21, made five appearances during a loan spell with Swindon Town last season.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international could make his Cod Army debut against Gillingham on Saturday.

“Once I spoke to the gaffer and he outlined what he wanted me to do and how he wants us to play, I felt it aligned with the strengths I can bring,” he told the club website.

Inter complete £30m deal for Liverpool's Jones

Curtis Jones joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of nine

Inter Milan have signed Curtis Jones from Liverpool in a deal worth 35m euros (£30m).

The Reds accepted an offer worth 30m euros (£25.7m) plus 5m euros (£4.3m) in add-ons for the 25-year-old midfielder, who has signed a contract with Inter running until 2031.

“It’s a club that I’ve wanted to join for a while now so I’m excited,” Jones said.

“I’m a Scouse kid who came all the way through [at Liverpool] but I’m at a point now when I want to take the next step and I think this is the perfect club.”

Liverpool have negotiated a 10% sell-on clause as part of the deal.

In June, Liverpool rejected a verbal offer of 25m euros (£21.7m) from the Serie A champions, with the Premier League side valuing their academy graduate, who had one year left on his contract, at about £35m.

More recently, Liverpool suggested that something in line with the £30m package that Inter paid Tottenham for Djed Spence would probably mean a deal being struck.

Inter were interested in Jones in January and proposed a loan with a view to a transfer, but that was turned down by Liverpool.

Jones made 228 appearances for Liverpool, having been given his debut by Jurgen Klopp in 2019.

Last season, he played 49 times in all competitions but only made 18 starts in the Premier League and struggled to secure a regular starting spot in midfield under Arne Slot.

Jones, who joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of nine, has become the third English player to join Inter this summer, after John Stones and Spence.

“After 16 years, it’s time to say goodbye,” he wrote on Instagram.

“This club is all I’ve ever known. I came here as a kid and I’m leaving as a man with a family of my own, which probably puts into perspective just how much of my life I’ve spent here.”

“Liverpool will always be a massive part of me. I came here as a kid with a dream, and I’m leaving having lived it.”