Why Jose Mourinho Chose Not to Start Guler and Bernardo Silva Against Roma

Real Madrid's Midweek Comeback Against Roma

Real Madrid pulled off one of their most memorable comebacks in recent times by overturning a 3-1 deficit against Roma within just ten minutes. Despite the impressive turnaround, the team struggled to control the match for much of the game.

Mourinho’s Midfield Strategy

The turning point came when Jose Mourinho introduced Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva in the second half. Their impact was immediate, sparking questions among fans about why they were not in the starting lineup.

According to a report by Rodra, Mourinho had a clear plan before kickoff. He aimed to field the most physical midfield possible, which led to him choosing Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni over Guler and Silva. The reasoning was to counter Roma’s intensity by focusing on physicality rather than possession early on.

This approach meant sacrificing control of the ball initially and depending on substitutions later, once Roma’s pace dropped in the second half. While this plan eventually paid off, it nearly cost Real Madrid the full three points.

Rethinking the Approach

The strategy of wearing down Roma and striking late worked but only after the team found itself trailing 3-1. Such a tactic may not be sustainable for a club like Real Madrid that should aim for more dominance and clarity in their play.

Throughout the season, Real Madrid has struggled with maintaining possession and generating quality attacks. Guler and Silva bring creativity and control that the current setup lacks.

With El Clasico looming, it will be interesting to see if Mourinho reconsiders his preference for a purely physical midfield pairing or decides to start Guler and Bernardo Silva in bigger matches after witnessing their effect against Roma.