According to Marca, with Heuijsen suspended and Ibrahima Konaté, Asensio, and Éder Militão injured, Real Madrid are left with only Rüdiger as their remaining centre-back. Deploying Tchouaméni in this position is therefore the most obvious solution.

José Mourinho is facing a centre-back crisis, and this time the problem isn't choosing between two centre-backs. As the Portuguese coach begins the new season, Rüdiger is the only senior centre-back available for the match against Villarreal. Heuijsen received a red card in the derby and is suspended for one match, Asensio recently underwent surgery, and Ibrahima Konaté won't be available until October 10.

This situation forces the coach to make personnel adjustments. At Valdebebas training ground, Tchouaméni is one of the clearest options. The French midfielder is familiar with the position and has played centre-back before, allowing José Mourinho to pair him with Rüdiger as a reliable centre-back partnership. Of course, this isn't the only option available.

Moving Tchouaméni to centre-back is the most obvious solution. Tchouaméni possesses excellent physical attributes, good passing ability, and is strong in aerial duels. Most importantly, he is accustomed to the position. José Mourinho is neither the first nor will be the last to deploy the French midfielder in an emergency situation. Additionally, this choice minimizes changes to other positions. The French midfielder can receive the ball facing forward, allowing the team to build from the back smoothly without turning their back to goal.

Another option is Denzel Dumfries. The Dutch defender's physical build allows him to play centre-back in certain situations. During preseason, José Mourinho demonstrated his willingness to try unconventional solutions when circumstances demand it. After a friendly against Alcorcón in August, the coach himself explained that he had to pair Arnold with Denzel Dumfries "to try to find a working arrangement that suits this style of play."

This personnel crisis also presents an opportunity for academy players to feature. Mario Rivas, Joan Martínez, and Diego Aguado are all options at José Mourinho's disposal to bolster the defence. Importantly, the coach didn't just discover these young talents now. Since the start of the season, he has repeatedly emphasized that academy players are part of his team planning. In August, he said: "The academy lads are filling these empty positions, training with us, and performing very well." His additional remark at that time now carries even greater significance: "The door is wide open."

A few weeks later, before the Betis match, he was even more direct: "As the season progresses, suspensions and injuries will inevitably occur, and they will naturally get their chances." Among the young talents, Mario Rivas is the name receiving particular attention from the coach. The 19-year-old centre-back trained with the senior squad throughout the second half of preseason, and José Mourinho has witnessed his ability firsthand.

In a friendly against Fiorentina, Rivas partnered with Joan Martínez in the centre-back position, and José Mourinho praised them afterwards, saying: "Both Joan and Mario are young players with bright futures. They demonstrated very high football intelligence while the match hadn't yet entered the intense physical contact phase." The third academy option is Diego Aguado. Having this talented youngster gives the coach multiple young alternatives, so he doesn't have to rely on a single player.

There is one final option, but he won't be ready for the first match. The Brazilian is recovering quickly, and his physical rehabilitation is progressing well, but he remains in the comeback phase. Therefore, he cannot be a reliable solution for the Villarreal match. However, if he maintains his current recovery pace, he is expected to alleviate the defensive crisis in the short term. For now, José Mourinho must solve the immediate problem first.

แปลโดย AI

เว็บไซต์ AF เปิดตัวแล้ว! ดูข่าว ความคิดเห็น รายละเอียดแมตช์ และสถิติครบถ้วนบนคอมพิวเตอร์ของคุณ เยี่ยมชม: www.allfootballapp.com