Real Madrid News
Ceballos, Alaba looking forward to Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: “Marked it in red”
After securing five back-to-back wins in La Liga, Real Madrid are set to face their biggest test of the season yet as they lock horns with cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
Speaking ahead of the game, Dani Ceballos has offered his thoughts, especially after a blistering start to the campaign.
The Real Madrid midfielder thinks it is going to be a competitive encounter between the two, stating: “It is a special match and it is very competitive. Madrid’s dressing room has marked it in red since the match schedule appeared.
“We have to play this match like any other and we have to go out and win from the start, as we did in the previous matches,” he added.
When asked about Real Madrid’s start to the season, Ceballos hailed the team’s strength in depth, especially in the midfield department.
“We are not just 11 players, but we have a very big team. Players come and go and we are all here to prove our quality and help the club. This is one of Real Madrid’s secrets, we have 23 players. When the season is long and there are many matches, we need everyone,” he said.
Ceballos went on to explain Real Madrid’s midfield situation while adding the fact that he feels extremely confident in the team.
“We have a very good midfield with players with a lot of experience, like Modric and Kroos, as well as young players with a lot of desire and enthusiasm like Valverde, Camavinga, Tchouameni and me.
“We are all a very competitive midfield and it’s clear that this year the coach tried different players and many different solutions and we gave the performance that everyone expects and we will continue.”
Ceballos’ thoughts on the derby were echoed by David Alaba, with the Austrian stating: “I’m sure it’ll be a special and tough game. Atlético Madrid are a great side, particularly at home.”
“The derby is always a special game. It’s a meeting between two great teams and we can’t wait for kick-off. I want to really thank the fans. Tomorrow it’s about going all out,“ he added.
The former Bayern Munich superstar also hailed Real Madrid’s good start to the season, adding: “We’ve started the season strongly and have to keep working hard to achieve many things. We’re not looking back and are only looking forward.”
“We’ve got some great facilities at Real Madrid City and work really hard, both on the pitch and in the gym. That explains why we’re all in such good shape.
“We’re working together as a team, from the forwards to the defenders. We did really well last season and have to work just as hard as we did last season,” he said.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
