The 4 players who have changed Mourinho's opinion

José Mourinho is back in the news at Real Madrid as he has adjusted his plans with Fede Valverde, Arda Güler, Endrick, and Yan Diomandé before the Clásico against FC Barcelona on Sunday, October 25th. The victories against Sevilla and Leipzig, both by 4-1, have reinforced the tactical decisions of the Portuguese coach, who is considering maintaining several of these changes against Hansi Flick's team.

Arda Güler is pure magic. ✨🇹🇷 https://t.co/972UYHIiqM

— Arda (@kingbeofguler) October 18, 2026

José Mourinho changes the positions of Fede Valverde and Arda Güler

As reported by Defensacentral, the first significant move by José Mourinho has been to shift Fede Valverde to the right-back position. The Uruguayan began the season alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni in midfield, but the coach decided to change that duo due to the team's difficulties in organizing play.

Valverde started at right-back against Sevilla, even though Mourinho had Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries available. The coach explained after the match that he sought to utilize the Uruguayan's runs to support the offensive contributions of Endrick.

This decision has allowed Arda Güler to drop deeper, now playing alongside Tchouaméni in the buildup play. The Turkish player has more involvement in his own half and is directly involved in the initial phases of attack construction.

The results have supported the change. Güler scored against Sevilla (4-1) and repeated the feat against Leipzig (4-1), scoring in two consecutive matches while taking on new responsibilities within the system.

Endrick and Yan Diomandé gain prominence at Real Madrid

The second adjustment involves Endrick, who is no longer exclusively seen as an alternative to Kylian Mbappé as a center forward. The Brazilian has started to receive opportunities as a right winger, a position from which he was a starter against Sevilla. Mourinho's plan to win the Clásico against Barcelona.

The attacker shared the attacking zone with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Diomandé. His presence on the right allows the Frenchman to continue as the striker without needing to alter the main attacking reference.

The case of Yan Diomandé is also noteworthy. The Ivorian has gained minutes following Vinicius Junior's four-game ban in LaLiga due to his expulsion against Villarreal.

Diomandé started against Sevilla and scored one of the four goals in the match. Subsequently, against Leipzig, he came off the bench and scored again, this time with a volley in the 87th minute to seal the final result.

His performances have increased Mourinho's options for the left flank. Although Vinicius could play in the European match, his league suspension prevents his participation in the upcoming Clásico.

Mourinho prepares for the Clásico with a six-point difference

The two consecutive victories by 4-1 have allowed the white team to regain offensive productivity before visiting Barcelona. The team has scored eight goals in their last two matches, with direct contributions from Güler and Diomandé.

José Mourinho's next test will be on Sunday, October 25th, at 9:00 PM, at the Camp Nou. Barcelona approaches the match with a six-point advantage, while the Madrid coach will have to decide whether to keep Valverde at right-back, Güler in the double pivot, and Endrick and Diomandé as attacking options.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 4 jugadores que han cambiado la opinión de Mourinho