Real Madrid put injured duo on specific recovery plans to avoid relapses

Real Madrid are set to welcome Real Sociedad to the Santiago Bernabeu for their first La Liga home game of the season.

Los Blancos are coming into this game with a 2-1 win against Espanyol behind them and will be hoping to put in a more cohesive performance against the Basque side.

Jose Mourinho will be without both Aurelien Tchouameni and Endrick against Sociedad, with the duo ruled out with injuries.

According to Diario AS, both players are following specific individual plans designed to prevent any relapse.

The key point is that their continued absence is being treated as part of a controlled process rather than an attempt to rush either player back into Mourinho’s squad.

Tchouameni and Endrick have remained away from normal group work as Real Madrid carefully manage their respective recoveries.

Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni is struggling with an issue since the World Cup. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

The objective is for both players to return only when they are physically ready to handle the demands of competitive football without increasing the possibility of another setback.

The cautious approach is understandable. The season has only just begun and Madrid have a long campaign ahead.

There is little to no value in accelerating a comeback for one league fixture and potentially losing the player for a long period.

Madrid have been guilty of rushing players back in recent seasons, which has seen injuries accumulate across the squad.

It looks like Jose Mourinho has learned a thing or two from the same and does not want to be in a position where he faces a similar injury crisis.

Tchouameni’s absence is particularly notable because Madrid are still working out the ideal structure of their midfield under Mourinho.

Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde started together in deeper roles against Espanyol, while Eduardo Camavinga provides another option.

Tchouameni, however, offers a more natural defensive presence at the base of midfield and could give Mourinho a different solution once fully fit.

Against a team like Real Sociedad who try to play through their opposition, the Frenchman’s presence might have been helpful for Mourinho.

Carlos Espi and Endrick could compete for minutes behind Kylian Mbappe. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Endrick faces a different challenge given the competition in attack. Kylian Mbappe is the first-choice striker up front, while new signing Carlos Espi has strengthened his case for minutes by scoring the winner against Espanyol.

The route to minutes is much more difficult for the Brazilian than it is for the French midfield star, but both will have to wait for their rehabilitation to be completed properly before they return to the pitch.

Once they recover and return to full fitness, both players could have important roles to play for Jose Mourinho, and it remains to be seen how the club handle their fitness in the coming weeks.