Real Madrid head into their next La Liga clash against Elche after securing a comfortable 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the weekend.

Despite the positive result, Madrid once again made several changes to their starting lineup, with Jose Mourinho continuing to rotate his squad.

The Portuguese manager explained that his approach is aimed at keeping every player involved and motivated throughout the season.

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Jose’s Take On Rotations

“You’ve understood a bit how I’m working overall. It’s not defensive, no. Cucurella and Carreras, Trent and Dumfries, the center-backs, none of them have played all the matches. The way we’re working is to try to keep the entire squad engaged, feeling useful, and able to get minutes,” Mourinho said.

The Real Madrid boss believes regular rotation can have a significant impact on the squad’s motivation, especially with the team managing a demanding schedule across competitions.

“This, for me, is important because it has a big impact on the day-to-day motivation of each day’s work,” he added.

Mourinho Open To Midfield Changes

Mourinho also explained that he has several options in midfield and is prepared to change the structure depending on the opposition and the condition of his players.

“The two midfielders, yes, I can rotate, but 1+2 doesn’t always mean it’s 2+1; it can be 1+2 instead of playing Jude as a 10, playing with a 6 and two 8s. We’re prepared for this,” he stated.

The manager also stressed the importance of monitoring the players before making final decisions.

“It’s important to understand sensations and listen to the medical department, important to read the data we might receive after training to decide between today and tomorrow. I’ll meet with them again tomorrow,” Mourinho explained.

Tchouameni Set For More Minutes

Mourinho also provided an update on Aurelien Tchouameni’s playing time, suggesting that the midfielder could feature more prominently against Elche.

“I think more minutes, yes. Without a doubt, more minutes than with Inter, which were 10-15, and we were all hesitant; we could have gone to 20-25,” Mourinho said.

“He’s getting better, stronger, and more confident every time. I’d say tomorrow, for sure he’ll play at some point, but I can’t say how long.”

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Mourinho Praises Güler’s Development

Mourinho also spoke highly of Arda Güler and his development, praising the Turkish midfielder’s technical ability and influence on the team.

“For me, his playing quality is incredible, his vision, decision-making, game organization, the stability he brings to the team, the creativity,” Mourinho said.

“He’s a player with fantastic potential who already has very interesting numbers.”