Jose Mourinho identifies Real Madrid’s most trusted back four – report

Jose Mourinho is shaping up his preferred Real Madrid defensive lineup, according to a report from Defensa Central. The coach has identified Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, and Marc Cucurella as the four defenders leading the race for starting positions. Dumfries is making the strongest case at right-back, currently outpacing Trent Alexander-Arnold for the starting role.

While Alvaro Carreras has been given opportunities at left-back, Cucurella is expected to establish himself as Mourinho's preferred option. At the heart of the defence, Konate and Huijsen have impressed Mourinho with their performances, earning praise from the manager. Both players have shown the potential to form a strong centre-back partnership for the most demanding fixtures of the season.

Mourinho appears to prioritize continuity over constant rotation for his most important matches, with Konate's physical presence and Huijsen's ball control appealing to the manager. Antonio Rudiger will also likely feature, though his workload will be carefully managed due to knee concerns.