Mourinho: 'There are no irreplaceable players at Real
October 22, 2026 · Perú
Coach Jose Mourinho emphasized the importance of performance on the pitch as determining a player's position at Real Madrid, not reputation or experience. Vinicius Junior is expected to show his abilities against competition from Yan Diomande.
Mourinho: 'There are no irreplaceable players at Real
According to Vnexpress.
Background
Vinicius Junior, who is one of Real Madrid's young stars, now has to fight to maintain his position in the first team. With Yan Diomande appearing impressive, Vinicius must prove that he still deserves to be the main choice on the left wing, especially in the context of tight competition in La Liga.
Why this is important
Jose Mourinho's statement highlights the importance of performance on the pitch in determining a player's position at Real Madrid, especially for Vinicius Junior who is experiencing a decline in performance. With only one goal scored in all competitions this season, the pressure is increasing for Vinicius to return to his best form in La Liga, especially with competition from the promising Yan Diomande.
Main Points
- Mourinho: 'There are no irreplaceable players at Real.
- Coach Jose Mourinho emphasized the importance of performance on the pitch as determining a player's position at Real Madrid, not reputation or experience.
- Mourinho: 'Không cầu thủ nào là bất khả xâm phạm ở Real'.
Coach Jose Mourinho revealed that no player is guaranteed a place at Real Madrid just because of reputation or experience. This statement was made at a press conference ahead of the match against RB Leipzig in the Champions League group phase. Mourinho explained, "Only Real Madrid icons are irreplaceable. I don't like the concept of irreplaceable players. Captaincy, experience or status do not guarantee anyone a position in the team. The only thing that makes a player irreplaceable is their performance on the pitch."
Mourinho's statement comes in the midst of a situation where Vinicius Junior is struggling with declining form, having only scored one goal in all competitions this season. In the previous match against Roma in the Champions League, Vinicius was withdrawn in the 59th minute when Real Madrid trailed 1-3. Endrick, who came on to replace Vinicius, showed an extraordinary performance by scoring one goal and providing one assist, which made him selected as the best player of the match.
Mourinho also gave Yan Diomande the opportunity to play on the left wing when Vinicius served a four-match ban in La Liga. Diomande proved Mourinho's credentials by scoring in a 4-1 win over Sevilla in La Liga.
Even though there are questions about whether Real Madrid is playing better without Vinicius, Mourinho still defended his player. He confirmed that Vinicius will return to playing on the left wing against Leipzig, while Diomande's status remains uncertain. Real Madrid have picked up wins in their first two Champions League matches against Inter Milan and Roma. However, Mourinho emphasized that his team is not yet the favorite to win the title. "It's still too early to say that we are the strongest candidates. Currently, Real Madrid's goal is not to win the Champions League, but to qualify for the knock-out phase. Once we collect enough points, then we can think about the second target, namely avoiding the play-offs," he explained.
Mourinho also reminded that his team needed to collect a lot of points to avoid the play-offs. He hopes his team can climb to the top 11 or 12, before targeting higher goals. In the Champions League format, the top eight teams will immediately qualify for the round of 16, while teams ranked 9 to 24 must go through the play-offs.
Currently, in La Liga, Real Madrid is six points behind Barcelona heading into the El Clasico match at Camp Nou this weekend. The pressure to achieve good results makes Mourinho continue to make changes to the lineup and strategy to find the best formation. In the win against Sevilla, Mourinho played Arda Guler in the central midfield position and gave Diomande and Endrick the opportunity to play from the start. Even though these changes have provided positive results, Mourinho admits that his team is still far from expectations. "We've only been together for three months, so it's not possible to immediately reach the level I hope for," he said.
Mourinho emphasized the importance of the strategy development process which takes time to build experience and understanding among players. He also rejected the view that he was a rigid coach, who was only loyal to one playing system. One of the strategic challenges for Mourinho is how to utilize Arda Guler and Federico Valverde. He said that both of them have the ability to play in various positions, but have different characteristics and experience.
Touching on the referee's decision, Mourinho chose not to comment too deeply on the controversy that occurred in Spain. He expressed his confidence in referee Istvan Kovacs who will officiate the match against Leipzig, and believes that the referee's character will limit situations that require VAR intervention. When asked about the comments of Fran Soto, President of the Spanish Referee Committee, who stated that referees in this country are the best in the world, Mourinho showed understanding, because he also always considered Real players to be the best.
Describing his first 100 days as Real Madrid coach, Mourinho found no major surprises. "I was ready to face the pressure and expectations at this club, and I actively observed and listened before making a decision. I didn't come with the thought of working 100 days or three years. What I tried to do was give my best every day," he said.
What happened next
Vinicius Junior is expected to return to the starting XI against RB Leipzig, where Mourinho will test his skills on the left wing. Meanwhile, Diomande, who has shown good performance in La Liga, will continue to be a threat to Vinicius' position, adding to the intense competition in the Real Madrid squad. This season, Vinicius' performance will greatly influence Real Madrid's season outlook in La Liga and European competitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the result of Real Madrid's match against RB Leipzig?
This article does not include the results of Real Madrid's match against RB Leipzig.
What impact will Mourinho's statement have on Vinicius Junior's position?
Mourinho stated that no player is irreplaceable, including Vinicius Junior, who is struggling with declining form.
Who replaces Vinicius Junior when he is not playing?
Yan Diomande replaced Vinicius Junior and managed to score a goal in the match against Sevilla.
What is Real Madrid's current position in the La Liga standings?
This article does not provide information about Real Madrid's position in the La Liga standings.
When is Real Madrid's next match after Leipzig?
This article does not include the next match schedule after against RB Leipzig.
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