Mourinho amazed by Valverde's versatility: he would put on the gloves and stand in goal if asked

Known as a midfielder, Federico Valverde is now playing at right-back when the team needs him there. The change of position has not dented his performance one bit. Alongside holding the defence together, he is also scoring regularly. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is full of admiration for his captain's versatility.

The Portuguese coach believes that if the team needed him to play in goal, Valverde would put on the gloves and stand under the crossbar without a moment's hesitation. Mourinho spoke of his faith in the Uruguayan while praising the captain's versatility after the win over Sevilla.

Valverde began the current season in midfield. The Uruguayan usually played in a double pivot alongside Aurelien Tchouameni. In recent matches, however, Mourinho has been using him at right-back.

The positional switch began in the Champions League match against Roma. With Real trailing 3-1 away to the Italian club, Mourinho changed his tactics.

He took Denzel Dumfries off from the right side of the defence and brought on Arda Guler. Keeping Guler in midfield, he moved Valverde to right-back. Real then turned the game around and eventually sealed a dramatic 4-3 win.

After that match, Valverde also played at right-back against Sevilla, RB Leipzig, Barcelona and Valencia. In his new role too, the Real captain has kept his rhythm.

After the win over Sevilla, Mourinho praised the captain's versatility. He said Valverde is one of the footballers in world football who can play in the most positions, and that there is no need to explain anything to him.

Mourinho said Valverde is the captain of Real Madrid and that even if he had to play as goalkeeper, he would put on the gloves and stand in goal.

Playing in defence has not stopped Valverde from contributing in attack. He has scored in each of his last two matches.

In the Champions League against AEK Athens, the Uruguayan star came on as a substitute and took up his midfield duties. In added time, he scored the winning goal with a superb strike from outside the box.

Then in La Liga against Valencia, Valverde again played at right-back. On Saturday at Mestalla, he put his team ahead in the 28th minute of the 3-0 win.

When Kylian Mbappe's free kick was blocked by the opposition defence and came back, the Real captain sent the ball into the net with a low shot from outside the box.

According to Mourinho, being the captain of a team does not only mean leading it; it also means being ready to take on any responsibility as needed. He said that when you are the captain, you have to be different from the others.

The coach added that in midfield they have Bernardo, Tchouameni, Camavinga and Thiago, and nobody else beyond them. That is why he feels Fede will play at right-back, because they all like him playing there, although he will also have to play in midfield.

Valverde's flexibility has created an extra advantage for Real. Mourinho can use him in midfield and in defence according to what the team needs.