Coach Mourinho warns no one is untouchable at Real

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho on Tuesday warned Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior and the team’s other stars that no-one is “untouchable”.

Vinicius has struggled for form this season and is serving a four-match ban in La Liga for hair-pulling, but is available as Madrid host RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, the club’s record 140 million euro ($157m) signing, has impressed in recent weeks, scoring against Sevilla on Sunday in La Liga in Vinicius’s absence.

“Only the club badge is untouchable,” Mourinho told reporters when asked if Vinicius’s place in the team was in danger given Diomande’s form.

“I don’t like the concept of untouchable players.

“What makes a player untouchable is not his status, the armband, his years at the club, how much was paid for him, what makes him untouchable is his performance on the pitch.”

Mourinho said Vinicius would play on the left wing against Leipzig and he had not yet told Diomande whether he would start as well.

Madrid host the Bundesliga side aiming for a third Champions League victory from three matches in the league phase, but in La Liga they are third and six points behind leaders Barcelona, who they visit on Sunday.

Mourinho said the team’s level is still a long way from where he hopes he can take it.

“A long way off... we’ve been here three or four months, it’s impossible to be where we want to be,” continued the veteran Portuguese coach.

“We always have to improve, be it individually or collectively... I understand the demands (at this club) are the maximum.

“I’ve been here three years (2010-2013), and so I know perfectly well how things are. I can’t lose my direction... (even though) I know there is a lot of work to do.”

Bayern brace for Arsenal test: Champions League hopefuls Bayern Munich are set for an early test of their title credentials when they host English champions Arsenal without in-form winger Michael Olise.

The London-born Olise, who started in Arsenal’s junior system, is suspended after picking up two yellow cards inside a minute in Bayern’s 3-3 draw with Viking last week.

After seeing a first yellow for a foul, a clearly frustrated Olise responded to some verbal provocation from Viking captain Zlatko Tripic by throwing the ball at his head to be sent off for the first time in his career.

After being thrust into Ballon d’Or contention due to last season’s stellar showing, the former Crystal Palace winger has continued his excellent form this campaign.

Olise has nine goals and five assists from 10 games in all competitions for Bayern.

With Jamal Musiala struggling with injury and illness and both Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl well off their best form, Olise and the ever-reliable Harry Kane have shouldered Bayern’s attacking burden so far this season.

The England captain has nine goals and six assists in 10 games. With Bayern 2-0 down away at Viking last week, Kane almost single-handedly engineered a comeback, scoring twice and setting up another.

Speaking after Bayern’s ruthless 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Kane said Bayern would miss Olise but called on the rest of their star-studded squad to step up.

“Missing one of your biggest players, you’re going to feel it for sure, but that’s where other people have to step up and show they can take their opportunity,” Kane said.

“We talk about the squad a lot, we talk about being ready for your moment and whoever plays will have to be ready.”

One of the many positives to come out of Saturday’s thumping win over Leipzig was the performance of Luis Diaz.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is determined to avoid using his squad’s injury problems as an excuse ahead of their Champions League tie at home to Viking on Wednesday.

Villa endured a difficult start to the season but have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, with Johan Manzambi’s first-half header securing a 1-0 Premier League win at Newcastle on Saturday.

But 21-year-old Switzerland international Manzambi was substituted in the 72nd minute and Emery said on Tuesday he will play no part against Viking because of a “small injury”.

Manzambi joins the likes of defenders Matteo Ruggeri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on Villa’s injury list.

Agencies