It is said that the best players are the most versatile ones, those who can effectively play out of their primarily assigned roles and do so comfortably. Such players are vital to a team like Real Madrid, whose squad depth is currently suffering due to injuries. In extreme situations, midfielders like Jude Bellingham are often instructed to play out wide since they are expected to be versatile, but Bellingham apparently still has a thing or more to learn adjusting to secondary roles.
Real Madrid’s Sunday encounter in the Madrid derby did not go as planned, as their rival battered them, particularly due to Carlo Ancelotti’s experimental selection. Hence, the fans have pounced on him for the defeat, which has taken them down the League table.
Ancelotti takes blame for Real Madrid defeat
In recent years, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of challenges that accompany major games. This is a team that exudes confidence and doesn’t succumb to fear when confronted with high-pressure situations. Much of this composure can be attributed to their manager, Ancelotti, who instils a sense of calm and self-belief in his squad.
Ancelotti has a well-established system, a group of players who understand it, and a clear footballing philosophy. While there may be some minor adjustments to be made as needed, no opponent has managed to force drastic changes in their approach. On Sunday, however, Ancelotti had a rare tactical mishap as his experimental selection saw his side defeated in a 3-1 thriller against Atletico Madrid.
Alvaro Morata opened the scoring for the hosts in the 4th minute, quickly followed by Antoine Griezmann doubling their lead. Real Madrid managed to pull one back with a goal from Toni Kroos. However, the Spanish national team captain Morata secured his brace right at the beginning of the second half, further solidifying their advantage.
Many fans blamed Ancelotti for Real Madrid’s loss, especially for playing a few players like Jude Bellingham out of position, but the fact remains that the Real Madrid squad depth is not the best at the moment. Ancelotti has little or no options for some vital positions on the pitch.
The Real Madrid manager’s strategy involved fielding five midfielders in order to gain better control of the game. To balance the team’s formation and make up for having one less forward on the pitch, the manager opted to exclude Aurelien Tchouameni, the defensive midfielder, from the starting lineup. Following their defeat, Don Carlo Ancelotti has taken responsibility for this selection error.
On top of that, Real Madrid is currently missing some of their important players due to injury. The likes of Vinicius Jr., Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao have been out for a few weeks now, and this limits the coach’s options.
La Liga table after Madrid derby
Winning their last five games in a commanding victory, Barcelona sits comfortably at the top of the Spanish La Liga table. Surprisingly, Barcelona is closely trailed by Girona, who finished 10th in the La Liga table last season. Real Madrid could have very well snatched the top spot from Barcelona, but their recent loss puts them in third place on the League table.
Atletico Madrid just handed Real Madrid their first defeat of the season and currently sits in fifth position, while Atletico Madrid sits right on top of them.
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