Real Madrid News
Just in: Real Madrid forward set to miss Villarreal clash due to knee discomfort
As Real Madrid gear up to take on Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday, they have been dealt with a injury setback as forward Rodrygo Goes is set to miss the game due to knee discomfort.
This claim comes from AS, who report that the Brazilian international will be given a break so that he can rest and recover in time for the UEFA Champions League clash against Chelsea next week.
Rodrygo had been in fine form of late. The former Santos wonderkid was sensational in the 6-0 route of Real Valladolid last weekend and had a solid game against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final earlier this week.
So much so that, the Real Madrid coaching staff believe that it is becoming harder and harder for them to leave the 22-year-old out of the starting XI.
The report states that Rodrygo had been feeling discomfort in his right knee since the clash against Real Valladolid. However, he forced himself to play against Barcelona, showing his determination and commitment towards the team.
But, the 22-year-old was spotted training by himself earlier today, with a bandage on his knee. And the club deem that it would be in the best interest of everyone to rest Rodrygo against Villarreal, so that he can be in fine shape for the game against Chelsea.
Rodrygo has scored 11 goals this season in 42 appearances across all competitions. The Brazilian international also has ten assists to his name. The Merengues will hope that the rest over the next few days does the young forward good and allows him to recover fully.
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.
