BARCELONA, (Reuters) – Jose Mourinho has Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira fit for Real Madrid’s La Liga game at Barcelona today and hinted he is likely to field his regular starting XI for the “clasico”.
There had been speculation the Portuguese coach would drop playmaker Mesut Ozil and pick a third defensive midfielder to counter Barca’s possession-based game, but Mourinho said he had no plans to change his tactics.
Argentina striker Higuain and Germany midfielder Khedira picked up minor injuries in last weekend’s win over Athletic Bilbao, which maintained Real’s one-point lead over Barca at the top, and sat out Tuesday’s Champions League victory at Ajax.
“We won’t change our working methods for Barcelona or anyone else,” Mourinho, a former Barca assistant coach, told a news conference in Madrid before flying with the squad to the Catalan capital.