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When Carlo Ancelotti took over the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu, he surely knew one thing – that it was not going to be easy managing one of the most illustrious clubs in world football. Well, it has not been. The first task for him was to land the next “prodigy” called Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu. He managed to do that on the very last day of the transfer window.
Along with Bale, came some promising and exciting young players like Isco and Illaramendi. The arrivals of Bale and Isco meant either Di maria or Ozil had to make way. Ancelotti chose Di Maria over Ozil and the German talisman left the nine-time European champions to join the Gunners. A decision which has not gone down well with some of the Bernabeu faithful which includes some of the players too.
Having done the hard part of dropping Ozil from his plans, Ancelotti now had a small matter in hand. A matter of playing the likes of CR7, Isco, Benzema, Bale, Di Maria, Alonso, Khedira, Illaramendi, Modric in a team of 11. He has been trying to find the right balance in the team ever since. Isco started the season with a lot of promise playing in a central role and getting the goals as well. But he has fallen down the pecking order of late, courtesy of some brilliant performances by Di Maria.With Bale starting to gain some match fitness as well, it looks increasingly difficult for him to make his way into the starting eleven.
Ancelotti has tried all possible formations to find the right balance in the team. He filled in a midfield “trivote” of Modric, Khedira and Illaramendi against Juventus. Real won the encounter but failed to impress. Bale and Isco were benched with Ancelotti opting for a front three of Ronaldo, Benzema and Di Maria.
Defence clearly is Real’s major weakness this season. Not only the backline, but also positioning, ball retention and ball recovery need to improve. It is hardly acceptable that Ancelotti has not filled the same eleven twice.
Luka Modric has been excellent so far this season, spreading play wide regularly to encourage Real’s wing play, and also proving capable of skipping past a midfield challenge every now and then. But in the recent game against Rayo, what Madrid missed the most was a player who would keep the ball, recover it when it was with the opposition and do the dirty work when the opposition was attacking relentlessly. In situations like these, you need a player like Sami Khedira.
It is evident that Real have been missing their midfield general Xabi Alonso so far. With him making his way back in the team, they should find the right balance between defence and attack. His positional play, ability to read the game and his long range passing are second to none.
If Bale plays a central role then Isco would miss out. If he plays on the right wing, where he got most of his goals last season with Tottenham then Ancelotti would prefer Isco in a central role. Thus he would have to put the ever exuberant Di Maria on the bench. Bale played as a No. 9 in the El Classico but could hardly touch the ball. He is good at running at the defenders with the ball on his feet, and so needs some space. Gareth Bale is clearly a talented individual, but benching him for, say, Di Maria or Isco for an extended period would not go down well with a certian Florentino Perez.
Also, Real’s pressing as a unit this season has been very poor. The midfield has often been standing off when the front line is pressing. This means the opposition full backs can dart forward once the ball has passed Real’s front three. This is when the midfield energy of Di Maria and Modric comes handy. Also, one consistent feature in Real’s season so far is the space between the midfield and the defence, which needs to be sorted out.
The front three of Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema are playing some breathtaking stuff, combining beautifully of late, but finding Di Maria, Real’s player of the season so far after Ronaldo, space in the team is proving difficult.
It is a sort of conundrum that most managers would happily welcome, but considering Ancelotti’s targets at the Bernabeu – winning the league or Champions League or Copa Del Rey or all three of them while keeping the fans and the VIP box happy by playing attractive football and by not conceding too many, it surely seems a tricky way ahead.
With an array of players who would walk into any team of Spain, Ancelotti has to manage these “galacticos” in a way that complements the embarrassment of keeping them on the bench as well. Clearly, Ancelotti needs to settle down on his first choice line up soon.
Being a Real Madrid fan, and purely out of opinion’s sake, my first choice team, when injury free, would look like this – (4-2-3-1; Casillas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Alonso, Modric/Khedira, Di Maria, Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema).
