Jose Mourinho Addresses Real Madrid Squad Updates And January Plans

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has addressed multiple pressing talking points ahead of his side’s crucial La Liga clash against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu, providing definitive updates on Vinicius Jr.’s suspension, Endrick’s future squad status, Arda Guler’s ongoing development, and the club’s January transfer window strategy.

With Los Blancos navigating a demanding fixture list and addressing controversies surrounding La Liga president Javier Tebas, Mourinho delivered a comprehensive assessment of his squad’s physical readiness, tactical adaptations in midfield with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, and the internal dynamics of managing a world-class dressing room.

Physical Readiness and Sevilla Challenge

Addressing the physical condition of his squad after recent fixtures, Mourinho admitted that while medical reports indicated signs of fatigue among his players, he expects them to be fully operational when they step onto the pitch to face Sevilla. Luis García’s visiting side has proven difficult to break down away from home, making tactical freshness vital.

“[The team is] Tired, but they won’t be tired tomorrow. Today, I think – and from what I’ve seen in the medical department – they’re a bit tired, but we’ll be fine tomorrow,” Mourinho stated during his pre-match press conference. “We also have some very good options should we decide to make changes and bring some freshness to the team. Sevilla are a great side; they always put up a fight away from home. Luis García is doing a great job. It’ll be a very difficult match, but we want to win.”

Vinicius Jr. Support Amid Roma Struggles and Suspension

The spotlight fell heavily on Vinicius Jr. following his difficult performance against AS Roma and the subsequent four-match domestic suspension. Mourinho strongly defended the Brazilian forward, attributing his tactical difficulties in Rome to Gian Piero Gasperini’s defensive approach.

“Vinicius had a very difficult match. For me, the main reason for Vinicius’s difficult match was Gasperini, because he kept attacking down his wing,” Mourinho explained. Regarding the disciplinary situation, the manager expressed relief that the suspension was not more severe: “As for the four-match ban, I’m happy because they were going to give him more. I thought there’d be a few hidden tricks that would cost us another one or two.”

Mourinho also highlighted Vinicius’s loyalty and mental resilience, revealing that they converse privately every day. “He’s a brilliant lad and it’s easy to get on well with him. I spend a few minutes on my own with him every day. I hold him in very high regard because he always manages to get on with life and carry on with a smile. If I were in his shoes, I probably wouldn’t be here. He would have forced a move to a country where he’s respected, but out of loyalty to Real Madrid and love for the club, he stayed.”

Endrick and Arda Guler Squad Competition

Young forward Endrick made a significant impact against Roma, winning crucial corners and helping turn the fixture around, but Mourinho resisted the urge to guarantee him a starting berth against Sevilla. The manager emphasized that selection dilemmas run deep throughout his squad.

“There are more than eleven who deserve to play – there are 15 or 16. Lunin deserves to play, and I’m not joking,” Mourinho remarked. “I can’t put both of them in the team. It’s the same story with the outfield players. We’ll all agree that the five players who came on and turned the match around deserve to play tomorrow, but what about the others? It just goes to show that this is a difficult part of a manager’s job.”

Turning to Arda Guler, Mourinho praised the Turkish midfielder’s versatility and work ethic, pushing back against external narratives surrounding the youngster’s development: “He works hard. It seems to me that you find it very difficult to give credit for hard work. It’s as if the negative aspects are always attributed to someone, whilst the positive ones are simply down to luck. Arda is a very talented player; fortunately, he’s not yet a finished product.”

Ruling Out January Signings and Managing Tactical Roles

Addressing winter transfer speculation, Mourinho dismissed any notion of requesting reinforcements in January. He expressed complete satisfaction with his current roster and confirmed that Eder Militao will return to the matchday squad against Sevilla.

“[Eder] Militao will be in the squad tomorrow. The simple fact is that I don’t need to call up anyone. I don’t ask for signings; I’m happy,” Mourinho stated firmly. “The lads are improving, especially if we have time and peace of mind. I need to develop them; I’m not the type to ask for players. I like a small squad. For someone to come in, someone would have to go out.”

On tactical balance regarding Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, Mourinho underscored his analytical approach: “A stubborn manager is a limited manager. Just as a manager who is open to opinions isn’t a good manager. I’m open to the opinions of my coaching staff. I can change my mind, but I can only do so based on my own analysis, not on what people outside the team think.”

Stance on Javier Tebas Dispute

Closing out his press conference, Mourinho refused to fuel a public war of words with La Liga president Javier Tebas following recent comments regarding Real Madrid. Maintaining that internal focus is paramount, the manager chose to protect the league’s prestige and shield his players from external distractions.

“I don’t want to talk about this; there are limits, and then there are limits. Excuses are only valid if it’s a medical condition; otherwise, there are no excuses. I don’t want to go down that road,” Mourinho concluded.