Mourinho answers Diomande questions after Real Madrid's win over Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid got back on track in LaLiga with a convincing 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu. The home side showed two very different sides in each half, but their quality eventually proved too much as they collected three points to stay in the fight near the top of the table. Jose Mourinho spoke to the media after the game to discuss a match that left several storylines, from the performance of the squad players to Vinicius' current form.

• Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 4-1 at the Bernabeu to return to winning ways in LaLiga
• Mourinho explained why Diomande was not in the starting lineup and praised his potential
• The coach said the match was decided in the opening 45 minutes
• Vinicius is physically better than ever but still missing a fraction of top speed
• Arda Guler brought stability to the team when he came on

Mourinho's explanation for leaving Diomande on the bench

The big talking point in the starting eleven was the absence of Diomande, a decision Mourinho wanted to clarify right away. The coach used a comparison with Arda Guler to explain the logic behind his rotations: "Arda plays a lot when he is on the pitch. I will say 100 percent sure that if Diomande does not start today, the first question would have been 'Why does Diomande not start?'". For Mourinho, the quality available on the bench allows him to rotate players naturally from match to match.

He has incredible potential. One on one, passing, shooting... He gives us a lot of options.

The Madrid coach made it clear that leaving the young forward out of the starting lineup was not a matter of trust, but part of his adaptation to the highest level. "He has little time at the top level and has a lot to learn from a tactical point of view," Mourinho explained. He sees Diomande as capable of playing in several attacking positions: where Vinicius plays, on the right, or even in areas usually occupied by Bellingham, while Arda Guler can also cover those spaces.

A 45-minute match at the Bernabeu

Mourinho surprised with his tactical analysis by saying the match was decided in the first half. Real Madrid were far superior in the opening 45 minutes but dropped their level after the break, just as he expected. "I knew the team did not have the physical and mental strength to play the second half the way they did," the Portuguese coach admitted, using Jude Bellingham as an example of that fatigue.

The image that illustrates everything is how Bellingham played in the last 10 minutes.

The English midfielder made several errors in build-up play, struggled to press, and suffered against Rayo's shots on goal. Still, Mourinho said it was predictable and that he was not surprised by the team's performance in the second half. The coach prefers to focus on the positives of a squad that has been together for only three months, although he noted that the real assessment only starts from the moment everyone has been available.

Vinicius' form and Arda Guler's influence

One of the standout names was Vinicius, who once again showed flashes of his quality. Mourinho was especially optimistic about the Brazilian's condition: "Physically he is better than ever. He is missing a fraction to reach his maximum speed." For the coach, Vinicius' ability to repeat high-intensity efforts is enormous and his mental strength allows him to play with the responsibility of representing Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team.

On Arda Guler, Mourinho highlighted the positive influence he has on the team when he is involved. The Turkish playmaker came on in the second half and improved the team's stability, making a difference with his reading of the game. "From the bench you only see quality," the coach said, viewing rotations as a necessary tool to keep the squad competitive throughout the season.

The final substitution: closing the door rather than chasing more goals

Despite leading 3-1, Mourinho opted to make a defensive substitution in the closing minutes instead of pushing for more goals. His reasoning was simple: with five minutes left and a powerful full-back for Rayo capable of creating danger, he felt it was time to protect the result. "I want to win and I want to win by as many goals as possible," he clarified, but added that the time for showboating was over. The fourth goal came after that, which reinforced his reading of the game.

Frequently asked questions about Real Madrid vs Rayo and Mourinho's comments