Real Madrid News
Tchouameni issues statement after training ground incident with Valverde – ‘What happened is unacceptable’
Following his physical altercation with Federico Valverde in the dressing room, Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has issued a statement apologising for his actions.
The incident took place on Thursday as the pair got into a verbal altercation which escalated into a fight inside the dressing room, with the Uruguayan even having to visit the hospital after taking a blow to his head.
Real Madrid have already issued a huge fine of €500,000 on both players after carrying out their internal investigation, with no suspensions being handed out.
Valverde, for his part, had already issued a statement about what went down, and now Tchouameni has shared his side of things.
Tchouameni’s statement
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable — I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school,” Tchouameni started.
“No matter who is right or wrong, we should always look for the calmest solution to resolve a conflict.”
Apologising for bringing the club’s image into disrepute, he added:
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club. I know the fans, the staff, my teammates, the management, everyone is deeply disappointed by the way this season has unfolded. But frustration cannot excuse everything.”
Insisting that there is no space for incidents like these in the Real Madrid dressing room, Tchouameni stated:
“These incidents, even if they can happen in any dressing room, are not worthy of Real Madrid. Especially since Real Madrid is the most talked-about club in the world.”
Tchouameni acknowledged the club’s punishment and apologised to the fans, writing:
“Anyway, now is no longer the time to figure out who did what, who said what, or who was right or wrong. I acknowledge the club’s sanction and I accept it.”
“We remain family, with disagreements at times but we must always put our objectives above everything else. I apologized to the group, and I also want to extend my apologies to all Madridistas.”
Concluding, Tchouameni insisted on focusing on what comes next, as he wrote: “Now it is time to move forward, our focus is on El Clasico and on the season ahead, to bring the club back to the top, where it belongs.”
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.
