Mourinho handling Real Madrid defender’s return from injury with great caution

Jose Mourinho is exercising great caution when it comes to Real Madrid defender Eder Militao's return from injury. According to MARCA, the Brazilian has been feeling increasingly fit after receiving medical clearance, so much so that he has been a bit of a handful for his own staff. Mourinho has had to stop him from rushing back too soon, even as his condition has improved.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Mourinho made it clear that Militao is not a doubt for Villarreal, but he will not be playing in the upcoming match. He joked with Militao and the physios about his imminent return, stating, "You are going to play." However, Mourinho has made it clear that the defender will not play against Roma either, and needs another couple of weeks to fully recover.

Behind Mourinho's comments, there is a revealing detail: his staff have been holding Militao back for some time. The coach and his assistants have had to rein in the eager Brazilian, who wanted to take part in a more competitive training match that carried greater risks than they were comfortable with. When Militao pushed to play the final part of the session, Mourinho's staff responded with a firm "No, no, not even five minutes or anything."

Militao persisted, to the point that he made some of Mourinho's assistants reconsider their initial decision. However, they ultimately refused to let him take part, emphasizing Mourinho's determination to give the Brazilian more time and to watch his progress closely. Despite Militao's impressive condition since receiving medical clearance, the club is determined not to rush his return and will not take any unnecessary risks.