Mourinho denies El Clasico influenced Real Madrid changes vs RB Leipzig: ‘If it were another match, it’d be the same’

Mourinho denies El Clasico influenced Real Madrid changes vs RB Leipzig: ‘If it were another match, it’d be the same’ Jose Mourinho has explained his Real Madrid lineup changes for tonight’s UEFA Champions League match against RB Leipzig, insisting that his decisions are driven by fixture congestion rather than Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona. The manager has opted to rotate his troops heavily , benching the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Ibrahima Konate, Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella and Endrick. The likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Vinicius Jr. and Alvaro Carreras have come into the lineup. While one might suspect that the changes may have been made with an eye on El Clasico later this week, Mourinho insisted that he made the alterations to keep his squad fresh while pursuing a strong result against Leipzig. El Clasico is not behind Mourinho’s selection decisions Mourinho rejected the suggestion that Sunday’s meeting with Barcelona directly influenced his team selection, explaining that the Leipzig game is simply the fourth match in a rapid sequence of fixtures. “No. It is about one match. This is the fourth in a very quick sequence. El Clasico is on Sunday, but if it were another match, it would be the same,” he explained, as quoted by SPORT . Changes aplenty for Real Madrid against Leipzig. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) “I am trying to ensure that only a few players play all four matches, which is why I have made these changes,” he added. Mourinho prioritises rotation as Real Madrid target top-eight finish Mourinho also stressed the importance of the Leipzig fixture, pointing to Real Madrid’s ambition to secure direct qualification among the competition’s top eight teams. “It is an important match. Yes, our objective is to qualify in the top eight. If we are aiming for direct qualification, there are still many points to earn,” he said. “Playing at home today puts us in a good position that we have to take advantage of,” the Real Madrid manager added. The manager’s selection reflects the need to balance immediate results with the physical demands of a tightly packed schedule. Rather than relying on the same core group for every match, Mourinho is spreading the workload across his squad. Managing the workload. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images) The changes give several players an opportunity to contribute against Leipzig while allowing others to avoid another full match ahead of a crucial weekend assignment. Real Madrid face Barcelona with a six-point deficit to make up on Hansi Flick’s team, adding significance to the weekend showdown. However, Mourinho’s comments indicate that his rotation policy is part of a broader effort to manage fatigue, rather than a decision made specifically to preserve players for the Clasico . Mourinho’s approach makes sense during a congested schedule as rotating players can help limit fatigue and keep more of the squad involved, but it also carries the risk of disrupting rhythm in an important European fixture. So, it will be interesting to see how the team fares tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu and whether Mourinho’s selection decision pays off.