Real Madrid News
Here’s why Jose Mourinho did not start Guler and Bernardo Silva against Roma – report
Real Madrid’s comeback against Roma midweek was one of their most memorable ones in recent years as they overturned a 3-1 deficit to win the game in a matter of just ten minutes.
While the performance in itself was poor, the game served to bring the team together and deliver a statement that Real Madrid still have that attacking zest in them. Where they fell short, however, was in controlling the game.
The men in white suffered throughout the night until Mourinho made big midfield changes. Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva’s entry changed the game, and it got fans questioning why the duo was not in the starting XI from the get-go.
Mourinho’s physical plan
As confirmed by Rodra in a recent report, Jose Mourinho had a specific idea in mind against Roma, which made him choose a midfield sans Guler and Silva.
The Portuguese manager wanted to start the most physical XI possible, and that led him to prefer the likes of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
His idea was clear – to counter the intensity of Gasperini’s team, sacrificing ball possession and relying on substitutions in the second half when Roma would slow down their pace.
The idea eventually worked out, but at the cost of almost conceding all three points in the UEFA Champions League.
A change in approach needed
While Mourinho’s plan of tiring out Roma and capitalizing on the second half was not a poor one, Real Madrid already found themselves 3-1 down at the time the comeback began.
It worked out on this occasion, but it is clear that it is not a sustainable plan. For a team of Real Madrid’s caliber, the game has to be more dominant and straightforward.
Where Real Madrid have been lacking all season is in retaining the ball and creating meaningful attacking openings, and it is clear that Guler and Silva bring that to the table.
With El Clasico coming up, it will be interesting to see whether or not the manager moves past his idea of pairing Tchouameni and Valverde for the big games, especially after how the midweek game turned out.
Real Madrid midfield star Jude Bellingham reached a significant milestone during Los Blancos’ thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma, making his 150th appearance for the club.
Furthermore, the result also marked his 100th win in a Real Madrid shirt, giving the Englishman two achievements to celebrate in the same match.
In the same game, Vinicius Jr. also reached a major landmark against the Italian side, recording his 250th victory for Real Madrid.
Bellingham records 150 Real Madrid appearances and 100 wins
Bellingham reached the 150-game mark during his fourth season at Real Madrid, having scored 49 goals for the club.
✅ Bellingham, 1⃣0⃣0⃣ victorias en 150 partidos con el Real Madrid El centrocampista alcanza estas cifras redondas en su cuarta temporada en nuestro club. https://t.co/AyqIgsjjWU
— 🆁🅼🅲🅵🅃🄴🄰🄼🆙 (@RMCFTeamUp) October 14, 2026
His 150 appearances are spread across six competitions: 95 in La Liga, 35 in the Champions League, six in the Copa del Rey, seven in the Club World Cup, six in the Spanish Super Cup and one in the UEFA Super Cup.
Bellingham’s 100 victories are similarly distributed across domestic and international competitions.
Vinicius celebrates 250 Real Madrid wins
As noted before, Vinicius reached his own landmark during the 4-3 victory, recording his 250th win for Real Madrid. The Brazilian forward has played 385 matches for the club and scored 129 goals.
His first victory came on October 31, 2018, when Real Madrid defeated UD Melilla 4-0 in the Copa del Rey. Since then, Vinicius has become a central figure in the club’s success, winning 14 titles.
His trophy collection includes two Champions League titles, three Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups.
How Vinicius’ 250 victories are distributed
La Liga accounts for the largest share of Vinicius’ victories, with 167 wins in the competition.
He has also registered 51 victories in the Champions League, 16 in the Copa del Rey, eight in the Club World Cup, six in the Spanish Super Cup and two in the UEFA Super Cup.
The milestones for Bellingham and Vinicius came during a memorable night against Roma, with both players continuing to build impressive records at Real Madrid.
