Real Madrid seems to have started the new year with low defences. Mourinho has some five players out at the back, meaning he is going to have to shuffle the pack along the rearguard. The injuries to Pepe, Marcelo, Albiol and Coentrao have been compounded by the suspension to Sergio Ramos, leaving Arbeloa, Varane, Nacho and Carvalho as the only senior defenders fit.
In theory, Mourinho is likely to plump for this quartet – of which Arbeloa is the only regular in the side – to hold down the fort. Varane, Nacho and Carvalho have only featured six times in the league between them this term. The Frenchman has seen the most action out of the three, with 299 minutes of playing time across four matches (three from the start and one from the bench). Nacho, meanwhile, has two appearances to his name – he started against Valladolid, coming off at half-time, and was brought on with nine minutes to go against Zaragoza.
Carvalho is in line to make his 'La Liga' debut for the season. The Portuguese centre-back has fallen way down the pecking order – in fact, he is the least used member of the squad, with his only appearances coming in the Spanish Cup and against Ajax in the Champions League. However, the raft of withdrawals at the back looks set to hand him an unexpected swansong.
As noted above, Arbeloa is the only defensive linchpin currently available to Mourinho. The full-back has featured in 14 of the club's 17 league games so far, playing 1188 minutes in total.
In theory, Mourinho is likely to plump for this quartet – of which Arbeloa is the only regular in the side – to hold down the fort. Varane, Nacho and Carvalho have only featured six times in the league between them this term. The Frenchman has seen the most action out of the three, with 299 minutes of playing time across four matches (three from the start and one from the bench). Nacho, meanwhile, has two appearances to his name – he started against Valladolid, coming off at half-time, and was brought on with nine minutes to go against Zaragoza.
Carvalho is in line to make his 'La Liga' debut for the season. The Portuguese centre-back has fallen way down the pecking order – in fact, he is the least used member of the squad, with his only appearances coming in the Spanish Cup and against Ajax in the Champions League. However, the raft of withdrawals at the back looks set to hand him an unexpected swansong.
As noted above, Arbeloa is the only defensive linchpin currently available to Mourinho. The full-back has featured in 14 of the club's 17 league games so far, playing 1188 minutes in total.
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