José Mourinho has introduced an individualized training program for every Real Madrid player during the club’s two-week international break.
Following the disappointment of the Madrid derby, Mourinho made a clear decision: allow his players to recover while also using the break to prepare each member of the squad individually for the next stage of the season. According to Marca, the rest period had actually been planned before the defeat to Atlético Madrid, showing that the coaching staff had already organized the team’s schedule well in advance.
The players who were granted time off are expected to return to Valdebebas on Friday. However, unlike a traditional international break where the remaining squad often follows the same routine, Mourinho has opted for a personalized approach. Each player has been given a specific program depending on his physical condition, technical needs and current stage of preparation.
Several players have remained in Madrid during the international window, including Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Raúl Asencio, Éder Militão, Álvaro Carreras, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch, Rodrygo and Ibrahima Konaté, who has also returned to Valdebebas.
According to Marca, every player is following a different plan.
The situation is even more specific for those currently recovering from injuries. Militão, Rodrygo and Mendy continue to report to the training centre every day as they work towards returning to full fitness. For them, the international break does not represent a genuine period of rest, with every training session considered important in their rehabilitation process.
Valverde is also following a special program as his ankle problem continues to be monitored.
Asencio’s situation is another case being watched closely. Depending on how his tibia injury develops, the young defender could eventually decide to undergo surgery, a decision that would have a significant impact on his availability for the remainder of the season.
🚨 BREAKING: Sources inside José Mourinho's coaching staff say a KEY FACTOR in Real Madrid's bad performances is the LACK of the creative midfielder that Mourinho wanted the club to sign in the summer.
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Meanwhile, Tchouaméni is using the break to complete part of the physical preparation he was unable to carry out properly during the summer. The objective is to help the French midfielder regain his best condition following a difficult start to the campaign from a physical perspective.
Mourinho’s plans are nevertheless limited by the number of players currently away on international duty. Marca reports that 15 Real Madrid players have joined their respective national teams during the September-October international window.
That leaves Mourinho working with a fragmented squad for much of the break and prevents him from carrying out extensive collective tactical work until the internationals gradually return.
Despite that limitation, the Portuguese coach wants to make maximum use of these two weeks. The objective is not only to recover physically, but also to begin preparing the team for a demanding run of fixtures in October.
Real Madrid are set to face Villarreal, AS Roma, Sevilla, Leipzig and Barcelona in a particularly intense period.
The reduced first-team group could also open the door for several academy players. Mourinho is expected to give some canteranos opportunities to train alongside the senior squad, allowing them to gain valuable experience while giving the coaching staff additional options ahead of a crucial month for Real Madrid.
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