Eduardo Camavinga, Vinícius Júnior and nine other players. That’s the lineup Jose Mourinho is considering for the trip to face AEK Athens. Vinícius’ presence in European competition comes as no surprise—the coach had already made that clear when the Brazilian received a four-match domestic league suspension. The real headline, however, is Camavinga’s return to the starting lineup, something Mourinho himself hinted at after the game in Santander.

It will be just the fourth time this season that the French midfielder starts a match, and his second start in the Champions League, following his appearance against Leipzig. The opportunity is a reward for his hard work at Valdebebas, as well as the spectacular sprint that set up Kylian Mbappé’s second goal in El Clásico.

“What I did in Barcelona will eventually be forgotten, so I have to keep doing it in other games,” Camavinga acknowledged in Athens.

It’s been a season with more positives than negatives for the Frenchman, although he began the campaign under intense scrutiny. His late red card against Bayern Munich in the 86th minute, with Real Madrid leading 3-2, became a major talking point among Madrid fans. The circumstances made matters worse: Camavinga was sent off for what was widely viewed as an unnecessary attempt to waste time.

“Honestly, it was a difficult moment for me. But I believe that even after negative experiences, there are always positive lessons to learn. I’m working to repay the trust the club has placed in me. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I need to improve. I spoke with the coach, and he gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.

That setback, combined with his omission from Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the World Cup, also took an emotional toll.

“I had the summer to think about it, and it hurt. What I did at Camp Nou wasn’t about getting revenge. I work every day to produce those kinds of moments on the field,” Camavinga explained.

Rather than allowing the setbacks to define him, the midfielder decided to fight his way back. He has focused on improving both his mental approach and physical conditioning, determined to rediscover the form that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

“I worked extremely hard this summer, and I’m a new man. I’m more disciplined than I was before,” he emphasized during his press conference.

Still only 23, with his 24th birthday just a week away, Camavinga understands what he needs to do to establish himself as a regular starter: consistency.

“I think consistency is what I’m missing. I’ve had some very good performances in the past, and I’ll have more in the future,” he said.

His display against Leipzig offered a glimpse of what he can bring to the team. Camavinga completed 66 of his 71 attempted passes, recording an impressive 93% completion rate. He also made six recoveries, covered nearly 7.5 miles and reached a top speed of 19.4 mph.

Now, in Athens, the French midfielder has another opportunity to make his case. With a starting spot within reach, Camavinga will be looking to turn his recent progress into a consistent presence in Mourinho’s plans.

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