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Jose Mourinho selects preferred defensive lineup for Real Madrid

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 27, 2026, 8:40 AM

Last updated Aug 27, 2026

Jose Mourinho selects preferred defensive lineup for Real Madrid

Summary

Jose Mourinho is narrowing down his ideal defensive quartet for Real Madrid as he identifies the players he trusts the most in his back four. Currently, Mourinho favors Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella as full-backs, with Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen at center-back. Dumfries is outpacing Trent Alexander-Arnold for the right-back spot, while Cucurella is expected to take over from Alvaro Carreras on the left. Both Konate and Huijsen have impressed the manager with their performances so far. Mourinho plans to rely on this stable lineup for key matches moving forward.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•Mourinho identifies Dumfries, Huijsen, Konate, and Cucurella as his starting defenders.
•Dumfries performs well at right-back, leading Alexander-Arnold in selection.
•Cucurella expected to secure the left-back position after strong bench displays.
•Konate and Huijsen earn praise for their solid center-back partnership.
•Mourinho focuses on continuity rather than rotation for critical matches.

Latest Updates

8:40 AMYahoo Sports — Jose Mourinho identifies Real Madrid’s most trusted back four – report

What they're saying

"
Jose Mourinho is beginning to form a clearer picture of his preferred Real Madrid defence, with the Portuguese coach reportedly identifying the back four that currently gives him the greatest sense of...
— Yahoo Sports

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