Mourinho changes Real Madrid plan after Valverde-Chuameni midfield trial

Jose Mourinho has changed his preferred Real Madrid system after concluding that Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni do not provide enough creativity when selected together in midfield.

According to Defensa Central, Mourinho initially planned to build his side around the physically powerful pairing, viewing Tchouameni and Valverde as the foundation for the balance he wanted at Real Madrid. However, the manager has since abandoned that approach after a run of matches exposed the team’s lack of attacking ideas.

The report says Denzel Dumfries, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Carreras will be important in helping provide rest for Valverde and Marc Cucurella during some La Liga and Champions League fixtures.

Mourinho is described as a demanding manager who insists on discipline and respect within the dressing room, but his decisions are not regarded as unchangeable. His use of Valverde this season has been presented as evidence that he is prepared to adapt when he believes it will improve the team.

The Uruguay international was moved to right-back against Villarreal when Real Madrid needed a win. Mourinho repeated the experiment against Roma as his side attempted to recover the result, before naming Valverde at right-back from the start against Sevilla.

That decision underlined the manager’s belief that either Arda Guler or Bernardo Silva must be included in the starting XI to provide greater creativity.

Tchouameni remains an important part of the team because of his defensive strength, his ability to disrupt opposition attacks and the balance he gives the side. Mourinho nevertheless believes he needs a more creative player alongside the France international, someone capable of controlling possession and beginning attacks from deep.

Real Madrid began the season with Valverde operating as the deeper midfielder while Tchouameni was injured. Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva alternated as his midfield partner, with the team making a positive early impression.

Mourinho later paired Eduardo Camavinga with Valverde against Malaga, before Tchouameni returned to the starting line-up for the match against Elche.

From that point, performances against Elche, Atletico de Madrid, Villarreal and Roma raised questions about Real Madrid’s football. Those games suggested that a midfield built primarily on physical ability was not offering enough creativity or attacking solutions.

Mourinho has repeatedly said his starting line-up depends on the team’s condition and the nature of the opposition. He may therefore return to a more physically dominant midfield in individual matches, but the wider tactical adjustment is considered permanent and is expected to be used for most games.

The manager could also repeat his approach from the Clasico or the match against Valencia, when Guler and Silva started together alongside Tchouameni.