Mourinho says he will never harm Real Madrid for one player before the Valencia match

Vinícius and the squad

José Mourinho told reporters at Valdebebas on Friday, 6 November, that the team comes before any individual. Asked about Vinícius Júnior, he said the Brazilian still needs work, while stressing that very good players can have negative spells and return to their normal level. Vinícius is serving the fourth and last league match of his suspension, so he will miss the Valencia game. Mourinho said he would manage the forward's minutes once he is fully available again, and that his teammates' support is part of the route back. He judged Vinícius's display in the 3-2 win over AEK Athens as an acceptable match, and was taken off in the 80th minute.

Valverde's captaincy and Ronaldo's decision

Mourinho praised Fede Valverde as a humble professional who sets an example without seeking the spotlight. He said he could not compare him with last season because he had not worked with him then. The captaincy has given Valverde a sense of responsibility, Mourinho added, though it is not an easy role. La Razón reports that Valverde scored the late winner in Athens on Wednesday, 4 November. On Cristiano Ronaldo, who has given up his place in Portugal's senior national team at the age of 41, Mourinho said the decision should be respected. He stressed that Ronaldo has not finished his career, and declined to predict whether he will become a coach, saying it is too early to say.

Jesús de Miguel and the league calendar

Spanish football is divided over whether this round of matches should go ahead after the death of Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old Tenerife forward. He died after a violent collision with Jesús Owono in the Tenerife against FC Andorra match on Monday, 2 November. Mourinho avoided taking a side in the debate. He said that only his family, friends and teammates can say whether he would have wanted football to continue or wanted a tribute across the sport. Mourinho said the organised tributes spanning all divisions seemed meaningful. He also said he remains irritated with the league over the day and kick-off time of the fixture.

Valencia at Mestalla

Real Madrid face Valencia at Mestalla on Saturday, 7 November, with kick-off at 21:00 Spanish time. It is the last match at the current Mestalla. Mourinho called it one of the most difficult games in the league, describing Valencia as a fresh side that had a full week to prepare. He said the Valencia coach, Javier Aguirre, is experienced and knows exactly what he wants from his teams. ABC reports that Valencia sit in the lower part of the table with nine points. Mourinho admitted to a fear of the match, which he qualified as fear in inverted commas, and said the national team break is not his concern.

Recovery and rotation

The squad reached Madrid at 3am after the Athens win and stayed overnight at Valdebebas to gain a couple of extra hours of sleep. Mourinho said the players' feedback after recovery work has been positive. El Mundo names Konaté and Huijsen as expected starters, while La Razón names Konaté and Dean as central to the rotation plans. Mourinho said he will spread minutes among the players who can be rotated, and that the focus is entirely on the Valencia match.