Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid star cannot play for AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight
AC Milan received a massive boost heading into tonight’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid, as star striker Tammy Abraham was cleared fit to play.
Abraham’s services could be useful, especially at a time when Rafael Leao has fallen out with the manager Paulo Fonseca. Milan, therefore, will welcome every attacking face it has.
Unfortunately for the Rossoneri, they cannot count on the services of an attacker, who is quite familiar with the idea of playing at Santiago Bernabeu: Luka Jovic.
Luka Jovic can’t play against Real Madrid
Jovic won’t be able to play against his former club as he has not been registered in AC Milan’s Champions League squad.
Milan, though, might have already taken this into account, as Jovic has barely played any football this season, featuring in just three league matches.
Formerly of Real Madrid, the Serbian joined Milan in 2023, for a fee of just half a million. He did enjoy a relatively decent debut season, scoring nine goals in all competitions.
But this time around, Jovic has played very little football, largely due to an injury that has kept him out on the sidelines for the last five league matches.
Jovic’s ability to find himself in excellent attacking positions could have been useful for the Rossoneri. In fact, a two-pronged attacking lineup involving former Real Madrid strikers Jovic and Alvaro Morata could have increased Milan’s chances of success
Jovic himself would have had an ideal opportunity to make an impression against his former club.
The Serbian had joined Real Madrid back in 2019, for a hefty figure of €63 million. But his time at the Bernabeu was marred by poor performances and injuries.
He had scored only three times for Real Madrid in 51 competitive matches, before eventually leaving the club permanently in 2022.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
Samuel
November 5, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Real Madrid should bench mbappe and inly bring him on in the matches after they have gotten the desired results if he is the problem, again they have been slow in upgrading their aging defenders at the right back and at the center back.