Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid stare at a massive week ahead, with a big UEFA Champions League game midweek and El Clasico scheduled for the weekend.
Los Blancos, in that sense, have found momentum at the best possible time as they played one of their best games of the season against Sevilla, and now believe they can take down Barcelona.
That does, however, come with the natural sense of caution that Barcelona’s run of form brings. Given how the Catalans are unbeaten in La Liga heading into the Clasico, Mourinho is making big plans to ensure they drop points on the night.
Attacking dynamisation
As reported byDefensa Central, Mourinho wants his attacking department to be unpredictable and versatile against Barcelona such that Hansi Flick’s men are left stunned at what has hit them.
Mourinho believes in his attack. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Despite Vinicius Jr. being unavailable, the manager has strong options in Kylian Mbappe, Yan Diomande, Jude Bellingham and Endrick – all of whom started against Sevilla and are expected to continue against Barcelona.
The manager wants each player to move differently in the attack to bamboozle Barcelona’s high line so that his side can capitalize and strike on the counter.
Diomande, in that sense, is seen as a crucial weapon down the left-flank, and the manager sees that Barcelona will place a special emphasis on defending against the new signing.
The idea is that the Catalans will be forced to double-mark the player, thereby opening up central spaces.
If Diomande can attract attention on himself, the spaces that open up between the centre-backs will make Kylian Mbappe all the more lethal.
Added to that, the manager has asked Jude Bellingham to step up from between the lines and make runs into the box to create jeopardy.
Endrick is the wild card
Endrick may start against Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The Spanish outlet also claims that the manager sees Endrick as a wild card player who can end up making a massive difference, especially given his versatility.
If the Brazilian youngster starts, he will feature on the right wing, where he usually does not play. However, he has the ability to play as a winger and also to cut in and threaten as a central presence – something the manager is looking to capitalize on.
Endrick’s presence and ability to attract defenders out wide, alongside Diomande’s threat on the left, should create spaces in the centre that Real Madrid hope can make the game for them.
Mourinho’s entire idea for the Clasico revolves around counter-attacks, for the manager sees that to be the best way in which his side can hurt the league leaders. Arda Guler and Dean Huijsen are also seen as crucial pillars in the dynamics in that sense.