Mourinho hoping to keep squad together

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he is hopeful that none of his players will leave the club in January.

Raul Albiol and Esteban Granero have both been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in recent weeks as the Spanish duo have been on the periphery under Mourinho.

Meanwhile, Gonzalo Higuain’s agent insisted on Saturday the Argentina international was determined to see out his contract, but Mourinho is worried about the effects that the transfer window may have on his squad.

“Until January 30 I am open (to what happens), but I would not like it if someone left,” he said.

“There aren’t a lot (of us) and this is a closed and balanced group (considering we have) to play three different competitions.”

Speaking ahead of Madrid’s Copa del Rey match against Malaga on Tuesday, Mourinho refused to reveal whether he will make changes to his usual starting side.

“I have decided my team, but not even my players know who will play,” he said.

Should Madrid and Barcelona progress in the competition, the two clubs will face each other in the quarter-finals, but Mourinho is not thinking about a potential showdown against the Catalan giants.

“We are not planning anything for the quarter-finals, because we do not even know if we will be there,” he said.

“If we have to face Barca or Osasuna, then we will see. Right now, we want to reach the quarter-finals and for that to happen, we have to beat Malaga.”