Real Madrid News
Promising Elche talent faces Real Madrid audition with a point to prove
As Real Madrid gear up for kickoff against Elche at the Estadio Martinez Valero later today, they continue to prepare against a team that plays a rather unconventional style of football for a relatively small side.
A lot has been said and praises have been showered on Eder Sarabia’s team this season for the fearless and attacking style of football they play, and Real Madrid will thus be put to a strange test given how league games often see them pitted against compact defences.
One of the key players of Elche’s setup, needless to say, is Rodrigo Mendoza – the young midfielder who Xabi Alonso also has on their radar as a potential summer recruitment.
A virtual audition
Xabi Alonso’s admiration of Mendoza as a defensive midfielder has been known for long, and the manager has openly pushed and even discussed the same with the board.
After all, he sees him to be the ‘new Martin Zubimendi.’
Real Madrid’s game later tonight, thus, will be Mendoza’s audition in a way as the board and management will undoubtedly have their spotlight firmly fixed on him. His performance against Real Madrid, after all, will say a lot about his calibre.
Going up against the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, and Jude Bellingham, the player will face one of the biggest tests of his career yet.
Should he pass the audition, he will put pressure on the Real Madrid board to process Alonso’s request and make him a part of the same dressing room next summer.
Still just 20 years of age, Mendoza has his entire career ahead of him and has a release clause placed at a meagre €20 million for June.
He has, however, attracted interest from several of Europe’s elite including Juventus, Manchester City, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Arsenal, and Real Madrid must thus act fast and make a decision over whether they are interested in his signing.
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”.
