Real Madrid tactical talks: Part I - Injuries and rotations

This season we have been seeing a new Real Madrid yet again. No it is not new signings once again, not to say that the club didn’t sign anyone new this season, but rather the fact that new signings this season haven’t exactly influenced the playing style of the club the way they have since the past two seasons.

I’ll be frank. I do not like the way Real have played so far this season. Not one bit. Sure, we’ve scored some beautiful goals this season what with Usain Bolt’s sprint record been broken and the wonderful one touch team effort against Ajax. But something is different this season. We are not playing the way we played last season. Unlike last season, the draw against Levante this season was a completely deserved loss, not to mention the fact that if Racing had an iota of skill in finishing an attacking move, we would’ve lost against them as well. The 6-2 win against Rayo Vallecano was perhaps the most unconvincing 6-2 win that one might ever come across, where we were outplayed for major portions of the match, grabbed some goals on fast breaks with the Bernabeu actually booing and whistling the team, after over a season’s worth of matches. The match against Espanyol was a snoozefest for a major part of the game, the flattering 0-4 scoreline notwithstanding.

So what exactly is it that we’re doing (or not doing this season)? The first part of this two part article tries to deduce the impact injuries and rotations have had on the team’s results of late.

Injuries & Rotations

What's going on in that mind?

“Rotations” is the manager’s ever clichéd two edged sword. If a manager does not rotate, he is called out for it. If he does rotate, the team stands a chance to get axed in the match. A successful manager rotates players wisely and as per need, an average manager rotates in the face of fan / boardroom / dressing room pressure. Most of the times though, it is injuries that force a manager’s hand when it comes to rotations.

When we talk about rotations, we have to consider the curious factor of “habit”. For a team like Barcelona where habit is second nature, players are nurtured to play in the same style as the senior team does, and due to the fact that the same players have been playing with each other for quite some time, a manager can rotate players more easily and with more flexibility. Our team on the other hand, comprises of Internationals from various countries, schooled and groomed in styles which often contrast with each other. Add to that the fact that most players have not been playing with each other for more than a couple of seasons, some even lesser than that. Due to this, the manager’s job is all the more difficult. And when the manager does enforce rotation, the players suddenly find themselves playing alongside others to whom they are not really used to (in official games, i.e.). In the 8 games since the season started (considering “Games Started” & including La Liga & UCL), only Xabi Alonso has started all the 8 games. While this is clearly a case of mild overwork, other players like Marcelo (7), Cristiano Ronaldo (7), Sergio Ramos (7), Mesut Ozil (6) & Karim Benzema (6) boast of healthy starting ratios as well. So where exactly has Mourinho rotated or been forced to rotate?

The little matrix above illustrates the starting XI for each of Real’s games thus far. As can be seen in the matrix above, the three bands of green towards the bottom indicate the same starting line-ups. Not only that, the line-up is almost similar to that of last season with one notable exception being that Coentrao played in what was Khedira’s position last season. However, due to Khedira’s injury, Coentrao had a full pre-season training regime playing alongside Alonso. Consequently, the first three games saw a Real Madrid side playing somewhat similar to last season, knowing what to do when in possession, the result being the bag full of goals scored (11 in 3 games). What is noteworthy is that in these three games, although Real played a game broadly similar to that of last season, Coentrao got forward more than Khedira ever does, and Real’s game was typified by a risky approach where one could sense goals being conceded.

Curiously enough, Real’s 1^st loss of the season against Levante was Khedira’s come back match. Coentrao was rotated for Khedira and instead played in Ronaldo’s position (Ronaldo had a bloodied and stitched ankle thanks to the guys at Dinamo Zagreb). Ozil too was rotated for Kaka. With three players out of XI rotated after just three games, Real predictably stumbled against Levante who got one goal on the break. What is noteworthy is that the back four (in orange) was the same as the last three games, so if anything went wrong with the dynamics of the team, it was not due to breaking up the defence partnership. We will come back to this later.

Pepe picked up an injury which allowed Varane to make his way into the starting XI for the next game. Ditto with Ramos, who made way for Arbeloa. Khedira who picked up a suspension in the game against Levante, made way for Lass, while Di Maria’s antics in the game against Levante ensured that he was dropped in favor of Callejon. Ozil was back in the fray. This chopping meant that 4 players outside of the usual starting XI played in what was one of the most boring games of the season, a 0-0 draw with little goal mouth action from either side.

Carvalho picked up a slight niggle before the next game due to which Albiol played alongside Varane in defence. Inexplicably, Lass continued to play alongside Alonso inspite of Khedira being match fit. Kaka and Di Maria made their way into the starting 11. The match started out as a disaster with Lass practically gift wrapping a goal to Rayo. He was duly subbed in the first half itself. However with one of the double pivots gone, and with Ozil, Kaka & Di Maria not being able to figure out their respective roles in the team, the match was an even affair until Kaka was subbed in for Khedira. Khedira’s inclusion into the game meant that the starting XI assumed almost the same form that the team had been used to and consequently the game finished 6-2.

What can be deduced further looking at the little matrix above is that Kaka doesn’t really have a good game when Di Maria plays alongside him. Yes, it’s only two games, but this is an aspect that I am sure Mourinho would have looked at. Di Maria’s poor form and his antics coupled with Kaka’s rise to form forced Mourinho’s hand in benching Di Maria for Ozil, a player who’s as versatile as they come. Ozil’s influence on the game this season has been far lesser compared to last season, however alongside Kaka; he has been a much better player than Di Maria has been. Also in the same vein, Ozil has had one official game with Callejon and it didn’t turn out to be too great. On the other hand, Di Maria has been a much better player playing alongside Ozil as can be seen in the matrix above.

Perhaps what is most curious is the turquoise patch showing the many changes to our Center Back pairing. A center back pairing for any club is built mostly on trust and out of habit. Managers are loathe to make too many changes to this particular area of the formation given the fact that the club stands to concede goals if the CB pairing is disturbed too often. Due to injuries and due to Mourinho’s tinkering, Real has fielded different center back pairings for the last 5 games and conceded three goals. Surprisingly, none of the three goals were conceded due to errors by the two center backs. Levante grabbed a goal on the break in which Marcelo’s poor decision making cost us. Lass gifted a goal as soon as the game started against Rayo, while the other was conceded through a set piece. I guess Mourinho is doing something right after all. However, Real has stumbled markedly due to the many changes to Xabi Alonso’s partner, a crucial area on the pitch no matter how you look at the game. The red patch in the matrix above highlights this; compare it with the results and the connection is clear, though it has to be said that inspite of the poor game showcased against Espanyol, we did not suffer much due to this chopping in the last two games. The reason for the poor game could perhaps be with the way the team has been deployed this season.

The next part will discuss in detail about formations and how the team has been deployed this season in styles which heavily contrast to last season and therefore, make for a contrasting footballing style.