Jose Mourinho says no Real Madrid player is guaranteed a place in the starting XI, leaving Vinicius Junior’s position uncertain before Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League match against RB Leipzig.
Mourinho confirmed Vinicius will play but has not decided whether the Brazilian will start. Yan Diomande is also under consideration after impressing in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Sevilla, although Mourinho has not told the Ivorian whether he will be selected.
Vinicius is available for European competition despite serving a four-match La Liga suspension for pulling an opponent’s hair during the match against Villarreal earlier this month. His recent form has been questioned, while Diomande’s performance has strengthened his claim to a bigger role.
“Only the club badge is untouchable,” Mourinho said. “I don’t like the concept of untouchable players. What makes a player untouchable is not his status, the armband, his years at the club, how much was paid for him; what makes him untouchable is his performance on the pitch.”
Diomande’s emergence provides Mourinho with a credible alternative on the left wing, despite the expectations surrounding Real Madrid’s £120 million investment in the player.
The manager also rejected the idea that he should remain committed to one tactical system, stressing that flexibility is central to his methods.
“As I said recently, I’m not a stubborn coach,” Mourinho added. “There are coaches who have an idea, and live or die by that idea. I’m not that kind of coach; I’m always open to analyse, to understand things and look for the best for the team.”
That approach was shown against Sevilla, when Arda Guler played in central midfield and Federico Valverde covered at right-back. Their adaptability helped Real Madrid secure a convincing victory and gave Mourinho further options across the team.
Despite that result and Real Madrid’s positive start in Europe, Mourinho believes the side is still some way from reaching the level he expects.
“A long way off… we’ve been here three or four months, it’s impossible to be where we want to be,” he said. “We always have to improve, be it individually or collectively.”
The 63-year-old previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013. Victories over Internazionale and Roma have put the club in a strong position to reach the last 16 by finishing in the top eight of the league phase, but Mourinho said it was too soon to discuss winning the competition.
“I can’t lose my direction… (even though) I know there is a lot of work to do,” he said.
“It’s very early. Right now, Real Madrid don’t have the objective of winning the Champions League. We have the objective of qualifying [for the knockout phase]. Then, if we get the points that allow us to qualify, then we get to our second objective: to try to avoid the playoffs, which are two games with tension, and they’re games you can avoid.”
Real Madrid are third in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona before Sunday’s Clasico at Camp Nou, and will be seeking a third consecutive Champions League win against Leipzig.
Defender Ibrahima Konate praised Mourinho’s authority, saying: “He’s a great manager, I think he has this aura that not many managers have, because he doesn’t need to speak and everyone will listen and respect him.”
