Real Madrid News
Real Madrid megastar highly unlikely to play in El Clasico – report
Just days before one of the biggest matches of the season, Real Madrid are facing growing uncertainty over the fitness of Kylian Mbappe ahead of the decisive El Clasico clash against Barcelona.
The French superstar is now considered a serious doubt for Sunday’s encounter, with reports from El Mundo suggesting that his chances of featuring remain slim at this stage.
Mbappe has been sidelined since late April after suffering a thigh problem against Real Betis, and concerns within the club are continuing to increase as the match approaches.
Tests to follow
According to the latest information, the forward is expected to undergo further medical assessments over the coming days to determine whether he can recover in time.
However, the overall feeling around Valdebebas reportedly remains pessimistic.
The situation has become even more sensitive because of the importance of the upcoming fixture.
Real Madrid know that dropping points against Barcelona could effectively hand the La Liga title to their rivals, making Mbappe’s condition one of the biggest talking points in Spanish football right now.
Behind the scenes, there also appears to be growing frustration inside the dressing room.
Troubles in the dressing room
Reports claim some members of the Real Madrid squad are unhappy with how the situation has unfolded over the past week, especially following Mbappe’s trip to Italy during his recovery period.
The Frenchman reportedly spent several days away before returning to training facilities earlier this week to continue rehabilitation work.
While the trip itself generated major media attention, the bigger issue internally seems to be the perception surrounding the player’s priorities at such a crucial stage of the season.
Despite the noise surrounding the situation, Mbappe himself remains determined to recover as quickly as possible.
Real Madrid’s medical staff will continue monitoring him closely before a final decision is made regarding his availability for the Clasico.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho talks Vinicius, Guler, Tchouameni, Diomande, Lamine Yamal ahead of Elche vs Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho has offered a revealing glimpse into how he is managing Real Madrid’s squad ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Elche, with the Portuguese coach stressing that improvement, player development and balance matter as much as the immediate result.
Mourinho was unequivocal about his priority for the match, stating, “I want to win; I’d like to play well and win.”
That answer was followed by more detail on several of his key players, including Vinicius Jr., Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni, while the manager also addressed the demands being placed on his squad during a congested period.
Mourinho wants more from Vinicius
The Real Madrid boss believes Vinicius can still produce another level, particularly in front of goal.
“His best form is when he scores. Providing assists is important, working for the team is very important, his day-to-day work is important, and he does it very well… But there’s another side to Vinicius.
“A Vinicius who arrived at Benfica last year and who, given a chance, scored a goal and went home. He’s lacking that top-class performance.”
Mourinho was considerably more enthusiastic when discussing Guler, praising the midfielder’s physical transformation and influence on matches.
“There are people better qualified than me to talk about his development. Physically, he’s been transformed, but for me his quality of play is incredible – his vision, his organisation of the game…
“For me, he’s a lad with fantastic potential and very impressive statistics. He’s a player who has a huge influence on the game, but I don’t want to go so far as to say ‘top, top, top’ three times – though I can certainly say ‘top, top’.”
Tchouameni’s return will be carefully managed
Mourinho also confirmed that Tchouameni will feature against Elche, although his minutes will be controlled after a gradual return.
“I’m thinking in terms of minutes. Against Inter he played 10–15, and we were all a bit unsure. Against Rayo we went up to 20–25.
“In the next few matches we’ll increase that further. He’s getting better and better; he’s feeling stronger and more confident. He’ll play tomorrow. At the moment, I can’t tell you for how long.”
That cautious approach extends to international duty, with Mourinho urging France to avoid excessive physical demands on the midfielder.
“As for the national teams, I don’t know what Zidane’s thinking is. Nor do I know what’s best for him.
“The best approach is a controlled approach to international duty, rather than piling on the minutes and the physical demands…
“I haven’t spoken to Zidane, but I think he’s a man of common sense and will know how to handle it best.”
Mourinho sees squad depth as Real Madrid’s advantage
The manager also explained why players such as Yan Diomande face an uphill battle for regular starts at Madrid, despite having the quality to play elsewhere.
“He’s got everything he needs. If, instead of being at Real Madrid, he were at another club, he’d be a first-team regular and play the full 90 minutes.
“We’ve got a very strong squad here. There’s Vinicius, Brahim, Arda, and Rodrygo coming in January… It’s hard to talk about an undisputed first-team regular at Real Madrid.”
Mourinho also explained that his midfield can change shape without changing its identity.
“We need to look at how we work overall with Cucurella and Carreras, with Dumfries and Trent, the centre-backs… We’re working to get the whole squad on the same page, because that has a huge impact on day-to-day operations.
“The midfielders also get involved, and we can play with a ‘6’ and two ‘8s’, or the other way round. We’re prepared for all of this.
“We can change players and roles, but the game plan and the dynamics don’t change. We always try to find a balance without losing our identity.”
Lastly, Mourinho refused to be drawn into Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or comments, stating, “I can’t comment on everyone’s statements. I respect a player’s comments.”
Source: MARCA
