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Real Madrid News Real Madrid midfielder determined to make major leap under Mourinho this season Real Madrid were hit with a speed bump after their perfect start to the season, with Real Betis offering an important reality check to Jose Mourinho’s team. After three wins from three to start the season, Madrid ran into a resolute Betis side at the Villamarin in a game where the ball simply refused to go in for them. On the one occasion that it did, Carlos Espi’s sensational overhead strike was ruled out for a marginal offside. Los Blancos lost the game 1-0 to the Andalusian side, but one of the few positives from the game was the continued good form of Arda Guler. Even with the team struggling around him, the Turkey midfielder once again showed why he believes this could be the year he takes a major step forward under Jose Mourinho. Guler making his opportunities count According to AS, Guler remains convinced that working with Mourinho can accelerate his development and help him reach another level competitively. His confidence comes at a time when his performances are making an increasingly strong argument for greater responsibility. The numbers from the Betis defeat underline the kind of game the Turkey international had, despite the result not going his way. Guler created seven chances, more than any other Madrid player, while also recovering five balls, the second-highest total among the team’s outfield players. That made Mourinho’s decision to substitute him midway through the second half particularly perplexing. The coach’s concern was Guler’s yellow card and the possibility of Madrid going down to 10 men. However, this is not the first time the 21-year-old has been removed despite playing well. Against Espanyol, he was also substituted after around an hour despite assisting Jude Bellingham and being one of Madrid’s strongest performers. Mourinho has a difficult decision Guler remains Mourinho’s starting option in the right-wing role, but Yan Diomande’s presence creates obvious competition after Madrid invested €125 million plus bonuses to sign the Ivorian. The encouraging part is that Guler appears determined to respond through performances rather than worry about the competition. He is taking his chances and, at times, playing at a creative tempo his team-mates are struggling to match. That should strengthen his position rather than weaken it. Guler believes Mourinho can help him develop and make a significant competitive leap this season. So far, there is reason to share that confidence. The next stage is about turning impressive stretches into sustained influence over complete matches. Guler’s on-pitch relationship with Mbappe is probably the best two-man relationship in the team at the moment. So far, the Turk has done nothing wrong to make Mourinho consider dropping him, and it remains to be seen how many more minutes he gets with Diomande’s threat looming large. Real Madrid News Real Madrid summer signing a doubt for Champions League clash against Inter Milan According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid could be without key defender Marc Cucurella for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan. The Spanish left-back was forced off late in the defeat to Real Betis with muscle discomfort. The injury is not believed to be serious, but the timing leaves the World Cup winner facing a race against the clock to be fit for one of the most important matches of the early season. Cucurella suffers late setback Cucurella has seemingly established himself as Jose Mourinho’s preferred option at left-back and appears to have moved ahead of Alvaro Carreras in the pecking order. However, the former Chelsea defender was unable to finish Saturday’s match against Betis after suffering cramps in the closing stages. The problem is not currently considered serious, although there is concern over whether he will recover quickly enough to feature against the Nerazzurri at the Santiago Bernabeu. With the players being given the day off today, Real Madrid will return to training on Sunday, when Cucurella’s condition will be assessed more thoroughly. Growing list of absentees Cucurella could join an increasingly long list of players unavailable to Mourinho for the Champions League fixture. Aurelien Tchouameni, Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick are among the players currently dealing with injuries, although there is still a possibility that Tchouameni or Endrick could recover in time. Mourinho must also contend with suspensions as Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga are unavailable for the Champions League opener The growing list of absences leaves Real Madrid with limited room for manoeuvre as they prepare for their first Champions League match of the campaign. The timing could hardly be worse for Mourinho. Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season against Real Betis, meaning Tuesday’s meeting with Inter has taken on even greater significance. Inter Milan arrive in Madrid as Italian champions, making the Champions League opener a major test for Mourinho’s side. The next few days will determine whether Cucurella can recover in time. If he fails to make it, Mourinho will have another selection problem to solve as Real Madrid look to respond immediately to their first setback of the season.