Aurélien Tchouaméni is gradually making his way back to full fitness at Real Madrid, and José Mourinho wants the same level of caution to be maintained when the midfielder joins the French national team. The Portuguese coach is counting on Zinedine Zidane to manage the situation carefully.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s trip to Elche, Mourinho discussed Tchouaméni’s physical condition at length. The French midfielder is expected to continue increasing his playing time, but his coach does not want to rush his return after injury.
Tchouaméni only returned to action last week. He first played around 15 minutes against Inter Milan in the Champions League before being given approximately 20 to 25 minutes against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. His workload is being increased step by step, with Real Madrid determined to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
Mourinho confirmed that the midfielder will once again feature against Elche on Tuesday, although he was unable to say exactly how long Tchouaméni would remain on the pitch.
“He is getting better and better, he feels better and he is gaining more confidence,” Mourinho explained. “Tomorrow, he will play. But at the moment, I cannot tell you exactly how many minutes he will be able to play.”
The Real Madrid coach also addressed the upcoming international break and the possibility of Tchouaméni joining France. Mourinho admitted that he does not yet know what decision will be made by the French coaching staff, but he believes that international duty could actually help the midfielder, provided that his minutes are carefully controlled.
“The best option will probably be for him to join the national team with his playing time managed,” Mourinho said. “That would allow him to continue progressing without accumulating too many minutes or too much physical effort.”
For Mourinho, the main objective is clear: Tchouaméni needs matches to rediscover his rhythm, but his comeback must remain gradual. With a long and demanding season ahead, Real Madrid do not want one of their key midfielders to suffer another setback by returning too quickly.
“I trust Zidane”
🔙 Jose Mourinho x Zinedine Zidane. pic.twitter.com/b4LPtdBMEG
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 25, 2023
Mourinho believes Zinedine Zidane will understand that situation perfectly. The Portuguese coach revealed that he has not personally spoken to the France manager about Tchouaméni, but he expressed complete confidence in the former Real Madrid coach.
“I haven’t spoken to Zidane, but I think he is a man with common sense and he will know what is best for Tchouaméni,” Mourinho said.
He then added: “He can go with the national team without compromising the rest of his season. Even without having to speak to him directly, I trust Zidane to manage the situation properly.”
Mourinho’s comments underline Real Madrid’s desire to protect Tchouaméni while also allowing him to regain competitive rhythm. The midfielder remains an important part of the club’s plans, but patience will remain the priority during the next few weeks.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to react.