Real Madrid's ideal starting XI for 2018/19 season

Midfielders

The midfield trio for Real Madrid should ideally be: Kroos, Modrić and Casemiro

Real Madrid's midfield is going to be the most entertaining aspect in their next season. Lopetegui likes to play with a midfield-heavy side. He is very midfield dominating orientated and he could bring Tiki-taka to Real Madrid. He might be Real Madrid's Pep Guardiola. In Lopetegui's system, all midfielders and wingers must be highly intelligent players.

Lopetegui's structure of Real Madrid will heavily rely on a defensive midfielder. Lopetegui knows Casemiro very well. They were together at Porto in the 2014/15 season when Real Madrid loaned him out. In that season, Casemiro showed his great talent. It is going to be very interesting to watch Casemiro in a system where composure under pressure is very important. However, Lopetegui appreciates Casemiro's defensive qualities enough to put him in the starting lineup.

Surely, Lopetegui won't remove Kroos and Modrić from starting XI. Kroos and Modrić like to play with the ball at their feet and that is exactly how Lopetegui prefers his team to play.

Luka Modrić is the glue that holds Real Madrid together. The spark that fires every move they make. With him, they're invincible. He will be turning 33 soon, but there is still fire in him. The World Cup 2018 is a perfect proof for that. He won the „Golden Ball“ at the end of the tournament.

Also, Lopetegui tends to work with young players. Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente will have a chance to prove themselves.