Real Madrid's Plan for Thiago Pitarch Proves Successful

Thiago Pitarch had to make the most of life's situations once again to keep proving his quality. Despite being available to Jose Mourinho for the first team, he had gone more than 70 days without playing a single minute since receiving competitive clearance. Until the international break arrived and, curiously, his opportunity to shine again came because another door closed on him.

The Spain U21 national team didn't call him up, so his plans for the three-week break changed drastically. So much time without Real Madrid matches would be overwhelming, but Castilla was not affected and continued with its matches in Primera Federacion. That is how a new plan arose: sending Pitarch to the reserve team so that he could have real competitive minutes again, in addition to supporting the team for a few matchdays.

The plan was put on the table, and when Mourinho gave the green light, it became official; it was agreed and settled by all three parties. Instead of spending three weeks building match sharpness in training sessions at Valdebebas, he would get it on the field. Starting against Sant Andreu, a match that ended 1-1, Pitarch was not seen in the great physical condition that continuity grants, but he gave the assist to Daniel Yanez.

Against Alcorcon, he put the most drive into a soulless Castilla that fell 1-2. Then, he received an express call-up to the Spain U20 national team; in the match in which he was a starter, he gave an assist and scored the second and defining goal of the match. His call-up to the national team was something agreed between Paco Gallardo and Real Madrid, thanks to the good relationship that exists between the club and the RFEF.

His coach at Castilla, Julian Lopez de Lerma, mentioned: "He has shown the player he is. But not today; he has been showing it for a long time in Primera Federacion or in Champions League matches. What must be valued very highly about Thiago is that he comes down with us, barely being able to train, after an injury that prevented him from having a good preseason with the first team. And he comes down with the same desire as when he was with me in the Juvenile B or in the Youth League.

The kid has put on an enormous display and has dominated many areas within football. Just watching his physical display is a spectacle. I have the fortune of knowing Thiago since the first year I arrived here. He manages himself. I knew I did not have to ask him for anything more. Neither demand nor motivate him, despite coming from up high to down low, which perhaps can be a little harder.

I knew he was going to take this match as if it were the last. Managing Thiago is very easy. Knowing that his efforts and his desire to compete are more and more always. Then it is not easy to play for Real Madrid's first team. But he has shown that he has the ability and the potential. If we see him up there playing, we will be very happy for him."

Now, Mourinho's idea is that — after seeing the performance Pitarch gave at the Di Stefano against the biggest rival — he returns to the first team. And thus, he can be part of the squad that will face Villarreal on Oct. 10 in the return to activity in LaLiga for the Chamartin side.