Mourinho’s Midfield Crisis Grows as Three Return to Training
MADRID — José Mourinho’s preparations for Inter Milan have been complicated by the absence of Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva, all suspended for Tuesday’s Champions League opener. The problem was already visible after Real Madrid’s defeat to Real Betis, and Sunday brought a partial change to the picture when Aurélien Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick returned to group training.
Tchouaméni spent part of the session working his way back into the team’s physical routine. He has been out for more than a month and normally occupies the deeper midfield role, sitting ahead of the defense. Mourinho now has to consider that role without the Frenchman’s usual level of match preparation, while two other regular midfield choices will be unavailable.
Inter is hardly an ordinary opponent for Mourinho. He won the Champions League with the Italian club in 2010, completing the treble that season, and the final was played at the Bernabéu. He then left for Madrid, where he remained manager until 2013.
Endrick’s return on Sunday came alongside Pitarch’s, although the Brazilian’s position in the squad is different from Tchouaméni’s. He could give Mourinho an attacking option if he is included, while Pitarch has returned to a midfield already missing several players. Both have had the same extended interruption to their preparation.
The two clubs have met in very different circumstances over the years. Inter won the 1964 European Cup final 3-1 in Vienna, but Madrid won all four Champions League meetings between the sides in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 group stages.
Mourinho’s staff spent Sunday working on the condition of the returning players rather than treating the session as a full competitive comeback. There is little time left before Inter arrive, and the three players will have to build their workload quickly if they are to be considered for meaningful minutes.
The match will also open Madrid’s campaign in the Champions League’s new league phase. Instead of the former group-stage schedule, every team now plays eight league-phase matches before the competition moves into its knockout rounds.
That format is one part of the backdrop to the game; the more immediate question is the midfield Mourinho puts together. Tchouaméni could provide the defensive presence that has been missing, but his absence from more than a month of preparation makes his potential workload difficult to predict.
Pitarch and Endrick have their own fitness questions. Their return gives Mourinho more names to work with, though neither has had the buildup normally expected before a match of this level.
By Tuesday, the final training sessions will have passed, and the decision on the returning players will be made alongside the three suspensions that have already ruled Camavinga, Güler and Silva out.
