Peter Gulacsi, Villarreal player
Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi knows his side will need to improve defensively when they travel to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu after the international break.
The Hungarian has identified clean sheets as one of Villarreal’s main areas for improvement, even though he believes the team’s performances have started to move in the right direction.
“We need to improve our clean sheets. It’s one of the areas we’re working on, and it’s a priority.
“As a goalkeeper, it hurts not to achieve that. We need to be more solid. In the last two matches, we conceded, but we played better.
“We were a more consistent team. That’s what we want,” he explained, as per Mundo Deportivo.
Gulacsi wants first win at the Bernabeu
Peter Gulacsi, Villarreal player
Peter Gulacsi has already played against Real Madrid as an RB Leipzig player. (Photo by Fabio Deinert/Getty Images)
The trip to Madrid will be familiar territory for Gulacsi, who has already played twice at the Bernabeu during his time with RB Leipzig.
The goalkeeper has experienced both defeat and a draw in those visits and is now looking to finally leave the stadium with a victory.
“I’ve played there twice. We lost once and drew once with Leipzig. I’m looking for my first win. We’re hoping for good results.
“After the Bernabeu, we’ll have some very tough matches and we’ll also need to focus on the Champions League. We must succeed, but first and foremost we’re thinking about Real Madrid.
“We’re up against a great team. It’ll be very difficult. We’ll give it our all and aim for a great result,” he said.
Peter Gulacsi, Villarreal player
Peter Gulacsi says Villarreal need to work on their defence. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images)
Villarreal will therefore arrive knowing the scale of the challenge, but Gulacsi does not believe his team’s early results accurately reflect its performances.
Gulacsi impressed by Villarreal quality
The goalkeeper has been encouraged by what he has seen since joining Villarreal and believes the team has shown enough quality to expect better results.
“I was really impressed by the quality of the team. I’m in a good position to compare, as I’ve come from the third-best team in Germany and have now joined the third-best team in Spain.
“It’s a great team. I was impressed by the intensity and quality. There have been matches where we deserved more points.
“We’re improving and working to achieve that. The trend is positive and we must keep it up,” he concluded.
Mourinho considering moving Real Madrid midfielder into defence against Villarreal
Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Real Madrid
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho is considering using Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back when Real Madrid face Villarreal, according to Bernabeu Digital, as defensive options continue to shrink.
It is to be noted that Raul Asensio’s absence due to surgery has left Mourinho with another problem in central defence, while Ibrahima Konate is still working on his way back to full fitness.
Real Madrid remain confident that Konate can recover in time for the match, but the club does not want to rush him unnecessarily, prompting Mourinho to consider a familiar alternative.
Tchouameni offers Mourinho another defensive option
Tchouameni has already filled in at centre-back for Real Madrid on several occasions in the past when injuries have left the team short of defenders.
Now, as reported by the outlet, Mourinho is considering using the Frenchman in the position against Villarreal if Konate is not ready.
Tchouameni could be Mourinho’s second centre-back against Villarreal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The move would allow Real Madrid to avoid taking unnecessary risks with Konate while still maintaining a recognised midfielder in the defensive line.
For now, Real Madrid are facing a severe shortage in the centre-back position considering that Dean Huijsen is suspended after his red card against Atletico Madrid, leaving Antonio Rudiger as the only available option for the manager.
Hence, Tchouameni’s experience in the role would not really be a completely new tactical experiment for Mourinho.
Konate fitness will decide the plan
For now, Konate’s recovery remains the key factor.
Ibrahima Konaté of Real Madrid
Konate is working to be available for the match. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid are hopeful that the French centre-back will be available, which would reduce the need for Tchouameni to drop into defence.
However, with Asensio and Huijsen both unavailable, Mourinho needs a contingency plan in case the French defender does not receive medical clearance.
The next few days should therefore determine the manager’s decision. If Konate returns in time, he is expected to remain the preferred option.
If not, Tchouameni could once again be asked to provide cover at the heart of the Real Madrid defence against Villarreal.