Tchouaméni steps up Real Madrid comeback, Mourinho eyes derby | OneFootball

Aurélien Tchouaméni is continuing to make steady progress in his return for Real Madrid. The French midfielder got more minutes again after a muscle injury, and José Mourinho’s coaching staff are following a specific plan to bring him back to his best level without taking risks.

After playing 11 minutes against Inter and 21 against Rayo Vallecano, the Frenchman is expected to have a bigger role against Elche. The expectation is that he will play more than half an hour at the Martínez Valero.

Mourinho confirmed that the player will have a greater role, although he avoided setting an exact number of minutes.

The objective goes beyond the match against Elche: Real Madrid want Tchouaméni to be fit enough to start against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano.

A return without rushing

The midfielder missed the first four LaLiga matchdays due to an injury suffered during the World Cup.

Tchouaméni began feeling discomfort in his thigh before the round-of-16 match against Paraguay and ended up making the situation worse after later playing against Spain.

Since then, his recovery has been meticulous. The player has worked for weeks with gym sessions, physiotherapy, and individual training, while the medical staff carefully monitor the progress of the affected area.

The priority is clear: avoid a setback.

That is why his minutes are being increased gradually, and each appearance also serves to assess how he is feeling physically.

Tchouaméni, a player Mourinho needs

The Frenchman’s return is important news for Mourinho.

The coach believes Tchouaméni can provide something Real Madrid have lacked during this start to the season: order, balance, and the ability to protect the area in front of the defense.

The midfielder is an especially important piece in the double pivot and, although he will have to share minutes with other players, his presence will be crucial in the most demanding matches.

So far, he has played just 32 minutes this season after being sidelined for several weeks.

Starter against Atlético?

The match against Elche will be another test in his recovery. If the signs continue to be positive, Tchouaméni could take the next step at the Metropolitano.

The decision has not yet been made and will depend on his progress over the coming days, but the possibility of seeing him start against Atlético is already on the table.

Mourinho also spoke about the possibility of the Frenchman being called up by France for the next international break, now under Zinedine Zidane.

The Real Madrid coach believes that, if Tchouaméni is called up by France, it should happen with careful management of his workload.

Mourinho calls for maximum caution

The affected muscle area requires special caution. Tchouaméni has already gone several weeks without pain, but the coaching staff do not want to speed up his return unnecessarily.

The plan is clear: more minutes against Elche, assess how he feels, and then decide whether he is ready to start at the Metropolitano.

Real Madrid know that getting him back to one hundred percent is far more important than rushing his return.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.