Mourinho identifies four Real Madrid players as key to beating AS Roma – report

Mourinho identifies four Real Madrid players as key to beating AS Roma – report Real Madrid will be looking to secure all three points as they take on AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow night. It will be a litmus test for coach Jose Mourinho against one of his former teams, and securing a win could be crucial, given Real Madrid’s recent run of inconsistent performances. Aware of the pressure, Mourinho now wants most of his players to play to their full potential heading into midweek’s game against Roma. Four players under pressure As reported by Defensa Central , Mourinho has identified Roma’s high press as the biggest threat his side will face at the Stadio Olimpico, and has concluded that four men in particular must rise to the occasion to beat it. Mourinho is well aware of AS Roma’s strengths. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Having coached Roma himself not long ago, the Portuguese knows exactly how dangerous their pressing can be, and he is acutely aware that playing out from the back is where Real Madrid have looked most vulnerable this season. The first name on his list is Thibaut Courtois. Mourinho wants the Belgian to act as Madrid’s first playmaker, using his footwork and distribution to pick the right option whenever the team recycles possession back to him. Alongside him, Dean Huijsen is expected to be pivotal. The centre-back’s ability to break lines with vertical passes, allied to his composure on the ball, could prove invaluable in bypassing Roma’s initial wave of pressure. Beating the press from deep The other two men entrusted with the task operate slightly higher up the pitch. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s range of passing, his knack for switching play and finding teammates between the lines, makes him a natural outlet down the right. Tchouameni must be incisive in the middle of the park. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) Even if Mourinho opts for Denzel Dumfries from the start, the Englishman’s quality later in the game could still prove decisive. Completing the quartet is Aurelien Tchouameni, whose job will be to link defence and midfield. His physicality allows him to shield the ball under pressure, while a single incisive pass through the first line could release Bellingham or Arda Guler into promising areas. The message from Mourinho is clear. The forwards will carry the individual quality, but the foundation for a result in Rome must be laid in Madrid’s own penalty area.