Mourinho confirms Vinicius vs Leipzig and discusses Diomande

Vinícius will play and Diomande remains a mystery

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José Mourinho confirmed that Vinícius will get minutes against Leipzig and will operate as a left winger, although he did not say explicitly whether he will start.

«Vinícius is going to play tomorrow as a left winger», he said.

Instead, the coach kept the uncertainty over Yan Diomande, whose involvement is still not decided.

Mourinho also made it clear that he does not consider any player untouchable: «What makes a player untouchable is his performance on the pitch».

Güler and Valverde, two versatile players

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The coach highlighted the ability of Arda Güler and Federico Valverde to adapt to different positions.

Mourinho explained that his decisions depend on the opponent and on the balance the team needs, especially in midfield.

That way, both could continue alternating positions and roles in the coming matches.

Mbappé and Carlos Espí, unlikely to start together

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Carlos Espí
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Mourinho acknowledged that it is difficult to line up Kylian Mbappé and Carlos Espí together from the start.

«Difficult. From the start of a match, difficult», he said.

The Portuguese believes using both could compromise the team’s defensive balance, although he does not rule out turning to that combination during games if circumstances require it.

Therefore, Espí is set to keep a role as an attacking alternative when Mbappé is on the pitch.

No clues about further rotations

Mourinho said he was pleased with Real Madrid’s three straight wins, but insisted the team still has plenty of room for improvement.

The coach avoided making any further decisions about the lineup and reminded that he will choose the players based on the opponent, the tactical needs and individual performance.