Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward following special fitness plan to reduce risk of physical problems
Endrick’s absence from Real Madrid’s trip to Germany has a simple explanation: the club is trying to keep him out of the treatment room.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian forward did not travel with the squad for the friendly against Schalke 04 because he is following an individual programme designed to reduce the risk of further physical problems.
Notably, it is important to note that the decision is not linked to a new injury.
What happened to Endrick?
Endrick experienced some muscle discomfort earlier in the week, something Real Madrid have acknowledged, but he has since recovered.
Rather than immediately putting him back into a pre-season match, the club’s medical and technical staff have chosen a more cautious route.
After seeing the squad hit by a long list of injuries in recent seasons, the club is placing greater emphasis on prevention and Endrick is one of the players currently being managed with that in mind.
As a result, the Brazilian is following a specific physical plan after recovering from the discomfort he felt during the week to make sure a minor issue does not develop into something more serious.
That is why he has been kept away from the Schalke friendly.
The decision also takes into account his recent fitness history. During his spell at Lyon, Endrick dealt with physical problems, and Real Madrid are keen to avoid a repeat of the stop-start periods that can affect his rhythm and availability.
With the competitive season about to begin, there is little sense in taking unnecessary risks during a friendly.
Simply put, Mourinho and his staff would rather have Endrick fully available for the matches that matter than push him through a pre-season fixture.
Endrick will be ready for Espanyol
The Schalke match is therefore not expected to affect Endrick’s availability for Real Madrid’s first La Liga fixture.
Barring any unexpected development, the Brazilian forward should be ready for the trip to Espanyol on August 22, when Mourinho’s side begin their domestic campaign.
That is the date Real Madrid are working towards.
Sure, pre-season friendlies can help players build rhythm, but the staff appear to believe Endrick will benefit more from continuing his individual programme than from taking part against Schalke.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
