Real Madrid's Training Boost Ahead of Champions League Opener

Real Madrid welcomed a much-needed boost at Valdebebas on Sunday as Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick all rejoined group training, racing against the clock to be available for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan.

The sight of the trio back on the pitch offered a sliver of optimism after a stuttering start to the campaign and that bruising defeat to Betis. But reality bites: all three have missed over a month of pre-season work. Match rhythm? Nowhere near. Sharpness? Still a work in progress. A place in José Mourinho’s starting XI at the San Siro looks a distant prospect.

And yet, Mourinho doesn’t have the luxury of a full deck. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva are all suspended for the European debut, ripping out key pieces of his midfield structure. The Portuguese coach must now redraw the blueprint in the very competition that defines Real Madrid.

That’s where Tchouameni, Pitarch and Endrick come in. Not as instant saviours, but as urgent projects. Over the next few days they will push through intense conditioning blocks, tactical drills and small-sided games, all designed to rebuild their legs and their confidence at speed while absorbing the demands of Mourinho’s system.

The clock is ticking. Inter await. And Mourinho, already under scrutiny after Betis, has to decide: how much risk can he afford with three talented players still chasing full fitness on Europe’s biggest stage?