Mourinho admits Real Madrid midfield crisis ahead of Inter Milan clash
Jose Mourinho has acknowledged a midfield crisis at Real Madrid before their Champions League opener against Inter Milan, citing key absences.
Key Takeaways
AIReal Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has admitted the team is facing a midfield crisis ahead of their Champions League opener against Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mourinho explained that several key midfielders are unavailable due to suspensions and injuries, leaving him with limited options.
Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, and Arda Guler are all suspended for Real Madrid, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Thiago Betarch have not fully recovered from injury. This leaves Federico Valverde as the only available first-team defensive midfielder.
Meanwhile, media reports suggest Mourinho may turn to Castilla players such as Jorge Sestero or Sergio Martinez, or consider shifting first-team players like Jude Bellingham or Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield, or even use centre-back Dean Huijsen.
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Mourinho's options and secrecy over lineup
Asked about the possibility of Trent Alexander-Arnold playing in midfield, Mourinho declined to comment directly, saying: "I will not comment on that," and added that he has several options but will not reveal them before the match.