Real Madrid's Valverde Delivers Strong Performance in El Clasico

The Uruguayan Federico Valverde again had an excellent performance playing as a right back with Real Madrid. A position he has been repeating in recent matches, and each time convinces Jose Mourinho more that this could be the position on the field where he performs best, since he not only has an instinct to defend, but his playmaking with the ball under control is extraordinary.

Despite having played injured since the 23rd minute, due to stretching his leg too far in a slide tackle on Pedri to take the ball away from behind, he played as much as he could, holding on until the 61st minute. Valverde, as team captain, did not hold back at all the emotion and pride he felt for Real Madrid's victory and said: "More than happy I am... Proud of the team, which worked well, where each one knew what he had to do.

And this makes a team: everyone united. The keys were: being a team, knowing how to suffer, having the ball, moving it from one side to the other, attacking the spaces. In the first half, we did it spectacularly, and in the second, they improved."

The Uruguayan concluded by mentioning: "I always say that if the team wins, the badge wins and I sleep happy. At halftime we talked. The coach asked me if I could continue. I tried to continue a little longer. In a slide tackle I made, my leg bothered me a lot, and it was more out of precaution. For me, it is very easy to say I keep playing with this kind of teammates who encourage you to keep giving your best for the team. Happy for everyone's effort; it was a pride to see them all run."

His effort did not go unnoticed by Mourinho, who dedicated words of appreciation to him during the post-match press conference a few hours after the final whistle. "There is another name I do not want to fail to mention. Valverde played injured for more than 40 minutes; he got injured, he wanted to continue, to go to his limit, and he gave everything while he was on the field," the Portuguese said.

Now, the merengues must celebrate, but from tomorrow they must put all their attention on preparing for Sunday's match against Racing de Santander. With the victory in El Clasico, they are down to only three points behind Barcelona, so continuing to add victories is of utmost importance, hoping for some lapse from the Culers that makes them drop points. The hardest task is already done, but it would be a mistake to think it is done; there is still a lot of the season left ahead.