Jose Mourinho talks Guler, Diomande, Tchouameni ahead of Elche vs Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho talks Guler, Diomande, Tchouameni ahead of Elche vs Real Madrid Real Madrid are back in action on Tuesday, as they travel to the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero to take on Elche. Jose Mourinho’s side are hoping to record back-to-back victories in La Liga, following their weekend win over Rayo Vallecano . Ahead of the fixture, Mourinho spoke to the media in Monday’s pre-match press conference. As per Diario AS , he started by discussing his squad situation, making it clear that he wants his players to keep gradually improving. “I ask for three months, others ask for ten years… What I want to say is that in three months I want to be better than today, but I don’t have anything magical that in three months we will be at an incredible level. In every game and in every training session, the objective is to improve. When a team is together longer and has been with a coach longer, it has more capabilities to be strong.” He also spoke about his squad’s need to adapt in-game, stating that it is impossible for his high-pressing approach to be used during an entire 90 minutes. “It’s difficult to explain, because we’re going to be here for a long time. I don’t think it’s possible to press high for 90 minutes, nor is it our profile nor do many teams in the world have that ability. When we are deeper, we also have to work in a different way. To be complete from a defensive point of view, we have to know how to do both. “I don’t like the low block, but there are player profiles in teams more adapted to that and I don’t want contradictions between what I like best and the qualities of the players. When the opponent has quality and ability to develop his game, when we are in a low block, we do not accept it passively, I do not want this type of mentality, but I do not want to suffer so much either, because the opponent manages two or three shots that force the goalkeeper to make saves, that they take four or five corners… I don’t want this.” Mourinho: Guler is top Mourinho was asked about Arda Guler’s strong start to the season, which is about to earn him a new contract . The Portuguese spoke highly of the midfielder, who is likely to return to the starting line-up against Elche. “There are people who are more qualified than me to talk about his evolution. Of how he has transformed on a physical level. But for me the quality is incredible, the vision, the decision, the stability that gives to the team’s game, the creation. For me he has fantastic potential that already has very interesting numbers. There are more in-depth analyses that we do. Maybe I don’t want to go that far and say top, top, top, three times, but top, top.” Mourinho also confirmed that Tchouameni will be in action on Tuesday, although it’s unlikely that he is used from the start. “I think we will have some minutes. With Inter 10-15 and we were all hesitating. With Rayo, we went to 20-25. In the next games we will go further. He is getting better and better, he feels stronger and more confident. Tomorrow he will play. At this moment I can’t tell you how much. “I don’t know the French coach’s idea in the international break, and we have to respect his idea. I also don’t know what would be better for him, whether to stay here training or have minutes with the national team. Probably the best thing will be a team with controlled minutes, evolution and not accumulation of minutes and efforts. I haven’t spoken to Zidane, but I think he’s a man with common sense and who will know how to do the best with him. That he goes with the national team without harming the player’s future. Without speaking, I am confident that Zidane will know how to do things well.” Mourinho: Tchouameni and Valverde can start together He also spoke about the possibility of starting Tchouameni and Federico Valverde as a pivot pair in the centre of midfield. “The way we are working is to have the entire squad plugged in, so that they think they are useful and will have minutes. That is important, it has an impact on motivation and on day-to-day work. It doesn’t always have to be 2+1, it can be 1+2, we can play with a 6 and two 8s. Regardless of each player, there are balances, movements and dynamics that do not change much at the level of play. They are different profiles: Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bernardo, Valverde, Jude… We always try to find balances without ever losing our identity, but thinking about the problems that our adversaries can create for us.” Finally, Mourinho ended up talking about Yan Diomande, who was impressive in this first start for Real Madrid in the victory over Rayo. “He lacks nothing. If instead of being at Real Madrid with this squad, he is in a team with fewer players of high potential, he would surely start the 90 minutes of each game. The squad is strong and has a lot of options. Throughout the season, gasoline is lost in the engine, as well as motivation and internal competitiveness. We also talked about Arda, Vinicius, Brahim and in January, Rodrygo will be back. Being an undisputed starter, as you like the word, is very difficult.”