According to AS, Real Madrid continues to use the pre-match preparation method for Champions League away games that José Mourinho established during his initial tenure as manager. The team trains at Valdebebas before traveling to the away fixture, rather than training at the opponent's stadium in advance. This approach was reintroduced by Xabi Alonso last season and has been maintained by Ancelotti as well.

Real Madrid has returned to "closed preparation" mode. In fact, this method has been consistently applied: training at Valdebebas first, then departing for the away match, just as it was during José Mourinho's tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013.

This practice differs from the traditional Champions League custom, but it is merely a convention. UEFA does not mandate that teams must train at the opponent's home stadium one day before the match. In reality, an increasing number of teams choose not to do so. Previously, Real Madrid adhered to the traditional approach for a long time, and José Mourinho was the first to change this preparation format. After he left in 2013, Real Madrid reverted to the old custom.

Now the team has returned to the new format. Real Madrid will complete its training in Madrid, then fly to AS Roma around 3:00 p.m., with no session at Stadio Olimpico before the official match begins. José Mourinho has thus continued his own tradition.

Last season, Xabi Alonso reintroduced this practice. After Real Madrid defeated Valencia 4-0 at the Bernabéu, a journalist asked him at the end of the press conference: "Is it true that you won't train at Anfield before the Champions League match? This is your decision, isn't it? Why is that?"

Xabi Alonso replied: "Yes, it's my decision. Why? Because we need to prepare for the match, and we prefer to prepare at our own training ground, in our own space. That way we won't be...photographed by 200 cameras."

He said this with a smile, referring not just to media cameras but also to equipment that the opponent might use. In reality, whether training takes place in Madrid or at the opponent's stadium, media are typically allowed to observe for only about 15 minutes.

After Ancelotti took over, this practice has continued. Generally, Real Madrid only travels to the opponent's stadium for the pre-match press conference. The team trains at Valdebebas several hours before departure, except when the away venue is too distant to manage, such as the previous trip to Almaty.

The trip to AS Roma requires no modifications. Real Madrid's flight is expected to depart around 3:00 p.m., and the pre-match press conference will take place at Stadio Olimpico at 6:00 p.m. This will be José Mourinho's first media appearance since missing the post-match press conference after the Villarreal game, and a player will join him.

Based on past player selection patterns for press conferences, Hüseidashnev is drawing attention due to his background with AS Roma. Sometimes Real Madrid considers such contextual factors when selecting players for press conferences, but final selections have not yet been confirmed.

The atmosphere at Real Madrid's training session was unusually quiet, with only the sound of camera shutters audible, at least during the 15 minutes media were permitted to observe. Players barely joked with one another, and the overall atmosphere was serious and slightly more subdued than usual.

José Mourinho moved between the outfield players' training area and the goalkeepers' area, while Courtois sat alone on the substitutes' bench watching training. A drone hovered above the training ground, and the entire session proceeded in a relatively calm atmosphere.

There were no personnel surprises, with Real Madrid having the four expected players out due to injury.

Éder Militão has returned to full team training but will need several more weeks to regain full fitness. Raúl Asencio underwent surgery for a broken right tibia and is expected to return between late December and early January.

Ferland Mendy has also rejoined team training but is expected to return later than Éder Militão. Rodrygo suffered an ACL tear and lateral meniscus damage to his right knee and is also expected to return between late December and early January.

No academy players participated in this training session, as the first team has sufficient personnel. All 22 outfield players trained, and with the three goalkeepers including Sergio Mestre, that makes 23 players total. All of these players are expected to be on the squad list and travel to AS Roma on the 3:00 p.m. flight.

This is Real Madrid's first Champions League away match of the season. In this season's group stage, the team will travel to Athens and London twice more to face Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk, with Shakhtar playing as the home team at Stamford Bridge.

Before these Champions League away matches, Real Madrid is expected to continue using the same "closed preparation" method. José Mourinho has reinstated his tradition: training at Valdebebas before Champions League away matches, then departing for the stadium.

แปลโดย AI

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