Real Madrid take their perfect Champions League start to Rome on Wednesday, with the visit to Roma carrying both immediate group-stage weight and the possibility of a final farewell to the Stadio Olimpico. Aurélien Tchouaméni said Madrid must improve with the ball but insisted the squad have the quality to win away from home after opening their campaign with victory over Inter.
Madrid seek a second European win in Rome
The second matchday brings Real Madrid to the Olimpico, where José Mourinho and Tchouaméni addressed the media on the eve of the game. Madrid travelled after training at Valdebebas, maintaining Mourinho’s established Champions League routine of preparing in the Spanish capital before heading to the host city.
- Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a win against Inter.
- The Roma fixture is away from home and Tchouaméni described the Italian side as a strong opponent.
- Mourinho has four unavailable players for the match, although their identities were not specified.
- The manager returned to the press room after declining media duties following the Villarreal match.
“We know we are facing a very good team,” Tchouaméni said. “I watch their games and it will be difficult, especially away from home, but we have the quality to win and we will try to do that.”
Tchouaméni calls for balance and better control
The French midfielder spoke about the demands Mourinho has placed on him in the centre of the pitch. He said the coach first stressed balance in Valencia, particularly because of the attacking talent available to Madrid, while also asking him to drive forward, contribute goals and help the side progress with possession.
Tchouaméni confirmed that he has spoken directly with Mourinho about his role and feels he is gradually returning to his best physical and footballing condition.
- He believes Madrid can raise their level in possession after an uneven start to the season.
- He rejected a simplistic reading of distance-covered statistics, arguing that a team must run intelligently rather than merely accumulate kilometres.
- He said Madrid are working daily to improve and must remain calm amid scrutiny.
- He declined to publicly discuss whether the club require a more creative midfield profile, saying that was a matter for the coach and president rather than a player’s press conference.
“There are many things we can improve,” he said. “With the ball, we have certainly not played at our best level from the beginning, but we work on it in training and we will improve.”
On the running figures often used to assess Madrid, Tchouaméni added: “We need to run intelligently. Statistics sometimes show what we must do and sometimes they do not. There have been occasions when we have done things well without running as much.”
Frustration, unity and a changing midfield picture
Tchouaméni acknowledged frustration over recent refereeing decisions but did not want to dwell on officials after Madrid’s win over Villarreal. He said referees seek to do their best and that the priority was to look forward.
Asked about criticism and whether this campaign feels different from recent seasons, he said pressure is unavoidable at Real Madrid. The response, he argued, must be collective improvement rather than reacting to every outside judgement.
“When you play for Madrid, you know there will be criticism,” he said. “The most important thing is to keep a cool head and improve as a team. What matters most is what we win at the end of the season, and we will fight for that.”
He also pointed to the arrival of Diomande as extra support for the group, while rejecting any suggestion of division between midfielders and forwards. In his view, the squad’s relationships are sound and every player is trying to serve the side.
“We have a good relationship as a group and every player tries to help as much as possible,” he said. “Diomande’s signing helps us a little more. We will give everything to win trophies.”
An Olimpico occasion with a longer horizon
The match has significance beyond this week’s Champions League standings. Roma are expected to begin using a new stadium from 2027, a project reported to cost €1.05 billion, meaning Wednesday could be Madrid’s last visit to the current Olimpico.
Back in Spain, Real Madrid’s crest has also returned to the Bernabéu façade following installation work. The emblem was made in Herencia, while the team’s focus now turns fully to a Roman night in which a second victory would strengthen their early European position.
