In Real Madrid's match against Rayo Vallecano, Carreras earned a penalty and scored a goal, helping the team secure a 4-1 victory. AS published an article stating that Carreras continuously proves he is far more than just a backup option, and Mourinho has consistently been very satisfied with his professionalism and training performances.

Sailing in calm waters is certainly easy, but sailing against the wind is far more challenging. That is exactly what Álvaro Carreras is doing. Twelve months ago, another left-back arrived as a major signing, and Carreras found himself in the spotlight. After Cucurella's arrival, he did not hang his head; instead, he made his voice heard. This time, he seized his first genuine opportunity. Since Cucurella established his position, Carreras delivered an excellent performance in his first start. He won a penalty and also scored a goal. Against Rayo Vallecano, he was like a sharpened blade, particularly in the opponent's half, full of impact and bite. Mourinho said before the match that he had "oil in his legs," and at the Bernabéu, not far from Valdebebas training base, Carreras played like a Formula 1 car.

It was one of his most complete performances in the white shirt, especially in the first half, where he seemed to be everywhere. He was active from the start. In the 13th minute, he was first to the ball, and an opposing player brought him down, earning Real Madrid a penalty that Mbappé converted. Before anyone could react, in the 17th minute, Carreras became the finisher himself. After a tackle by Vinicius, Carreras intelligently ran to the ball's destination, played a one-two in the box, and calmly slotted the ball past the near post. He played with composure. Last season, he contributed to 5 goals, scoring 2 and assisting 3, and yesterday he was directly involved in two goals in a single match. Furthermore, he made several powerful attacking runs, helping Real Madrid accelerate its ball distribution.

Early in the second half, Rayo Vallecano had their best period, thanks in part to Tsitaishvili's performance, and Carreras had to strengthen his defense, but the problem was not on his side. His statistics are impressive: he created 3 chances, completed 2 dribbles out of 2 attempted, made 3 tackles, 3 clearances, and won 3 duels, tied with Diomande for the most on the pitch; he completed 54 passes with an 88% success rate, just behind another teammate, and had 90 touches of the ball. Interestingly, Cucurella came on as a substitute late in the match, replacing him.

"It was an excellent team performance, but I'm also pleased with the goal. Mbappé gave me the ball back in the box, and I shot from there. I'm very happy; I've been enjoying this dream journey since day one. I want to continue enjoying this experience and keep working hard to achieve my goals," he said with a smile after the match. He also highlighted Mourinho's demands: "The coach is very demanding. It's difficult to maintain 100% intensity for 90 minutes. Bringing on Cucurella in the final minutes was to help me defensively." And Carreras responded with a 100% performance, proving he can elevate his game whenever the team needs him, and with full confidence.

For his part, Mourinho has always been clear on this matter. Even in preseason, he was very satisfied with Carreras's daily performances and professionalism. As players returning from international duty and new signings gradually joined the team, Carreras regularly asserted himself. He not only accomplished his tasks but also delivered many impressive performances, such as in the friendly against Fiorentina; sometimes he was deployed in a more advanced position, and Mourinho also experimented with him in different roles. He did not shy away from new challenges; instead, he continued to prove himself. Just like yesterday, he wants to make it clear to everyone that he is far more than simply a backup option.

Traduit par IA.

Le site web d'AF est désormais en ligne ! Actualités complètes, commentaires, détails des matchs et statistiques sur votre ordinateur. Visitez : www.allfootballapp.com