{"id":3898,"date":"2026-09-16T20:58:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T20:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=3898"},"modified":"2026-09-16T20:58:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T20:58:45","slug":"mourinho-doubts-arda-gulers-role-explains-why-espi-stays-benched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=3898","title":{"rendered":"Mourinho doubts Arda G\u00fcler\u2019s role, explains why Esp\u00ed stays benched"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Real Madrid<\/a> suffered more than expected, but ended up snatching a dramatic 2-3 win over Elche<\/a>.<\/strong> Los Blancos had the match under control and held a two-goal lead, but once again lost intensity and allowed their opponents to level the score.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Amid the struggle, Carlos Esp\u00ed<\/a><\/strong> stepped up once again, scoring in stoppage time to give all three points to Jos\u00e9 Mourinho<\/strong>\u2019s side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After the match, the Portuguese coach spoke about two names who left very different impressions: Arda G\u00fcler<\/a><\/strong>, a standout for much of the game, and Esp\u00ed, the striker who once again came off the bench to become the hero.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mourinho: \u201cArda G\u00fcler is not indispensable\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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G\u00fcler was one of the main figures of the first half. The Turkish player scored a spectacular free-kick goal and became one of Real Madrid\u2019s main attacking outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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However, Mourinho made it clear that, despite his importance, no player has a guaranteed place in his team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cNo, he is not indispensable. Nobody is indispensable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The coach explained that he decided to substitute the Turkish player when he began to notice that Madrid were losing control of the match.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhen I make the first two changes, Bellingham and Brahim, I do it exactly because we are losing control.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Mourinho felt that G\u00fcler had also started to lose intensity and chose to bring on fresh players to try to regain control of the game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cArda G\u00fcler, who played today in this position, which you can call a \u201810\u2019, but in the end the position is the whole pitch, was also losing intensity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The decision ended up being significant, as Elche managed to come back from 0-2 down and make it 2-2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Esp\u00ed shows up again when Madrid need him most<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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While G\u00fcler was one of the main protagonists for much of the game, Carlos Esp\u00ed once again showed that he has a special connection with decisive moments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The striker came on in the closing stages and scored the 2-3 in stoppage time, repeating the impact he had already made on the opening matchday of LaLiga<\/a>, when he also scored the winner against Espanyol.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Despite his decisive appearances, Mourinho continues to use the forward as a substitute and explained why.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s doing well, he\u2019s making an important contribution to the team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The main obstacle keeping Esp\u00ed out of the starting lineup has a first and last name: Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s a boy with great motivation, and in front of him he has a player who is not a normal player.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Mourinho believes that starting both of them together would also force the team to change its structure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cPlaying with both together is not easy, because then we don\u2019t have wide players who are typical of a 4-4-2, and the team loses balance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mourinho risked everything to avoid another draw<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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With the match level, the Portuguese coach decided to go for a much more attacking approach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWith the changes I made at the end, I risked everything. We won, we could have lost, but you have to do it because a draw is no use.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The gamble paid off thanks to Esp\u00ed\u2019s goal, although the result once again highlighted a concern for Los Blancos: the team dominated for much of the match, but lost control again in the second half<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Real Madrid now have five wins from six LaLiga matches, although Mourinho still has work to do to ensure his team maintain for the full 90 minutes the intensity they show at their best.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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