Real Madrid News
Ancelotti could again change Real Madrid’s formation after Vinicius Jr’s injury – report
The 2023/24 season has been a mixed bag for Real Madrid so far. While they are producing the results on the pitch (three wins in three), they have been rocked by injuries to several players very early into the campaign.
Of those injured, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois are likely to miss the entire season while key superstar Vinicius Jr became the latest casualty for the Merengues.
Vinicius’ injury could be more serious than anticipated
The 23-year-old attacker had to be taken off within 20 minutes during the game against Celta Vigo last Friday due to a thigh injury.
Speaking after the game, Carlo Ancelotti had said that the issue was not very serious and that the Brazilian could return soon.
More updates regarding his condition are expected today, but as per reports, the injury appears to be a bit more concerning than what was initially anticipated.
Vinicius will undergo MRI scans today at the Valdebebas which would provide a better picture of the extent of his injury, but he could be out for a few weeks.
Ancelotti contemplating a change of formation
And, as such, AS is reporting that if Vinicius’ absence is confirmed for a prolonger period, Ancelotti could make a change to Real Madrid’s formation again this season.
The Real Madrid boss moved away from the 4-3-3 he has largely used since returning in 2021 and adopted a 4-4-2 diamond formation to make best use of his midfield riches.
But, the injury to Vinicius could force Ancelotti to return to a 4-3-3 in the coming games, as per the report, with new signing Joselu operating as the No. 9 in the setup.
The Spanish striker would be flanked by Rodrygo Goes on the left, taking Vinicius’ position, while Federico Valverde would take up the right wing.
It would also mean that star man Jude Bellingham would have to take up a slightly deeper position in midfield than he has been of late and would have additional responsibilities defensively.
It remains to be seen if Ancelotti does decide to go down this route starting with the weekend clash against Getafe at the Bernabeu.
Aurelien Tchouameni has had an exciting start to his career at Real Madrid. Since joining the club for almost €80 million last summer, the young Frenchman has now become a pivotal figure in Real Madrid’s midfield unit.
However, prior to his move to Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder was closely linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In a recent interview, Tchouameni opened up on his links to PSG but revealed his decision to join Real Madrid.
Aurelien Tchouameni on PSG links
Talking about speculations linking him to PSG, Tchouameni said (h/t Madrid Zone), “PSG? Frankly, I thought about it. It’s a very big European club, we want the French clubs to succeed.”
“But honestly, when Real Madrid calls you, it’s very complicated to say no,” Tchouameni added.
The midfielder was linked with a move to PSG during his time at AS Monaco. Les Parisiens wanted to sign the youngster as part of their plans to reinforce the midfield unit.
Tchouameni, though, ended up opting for a move to Real Madrid, which turned out to be a prudent decision from the midfielder’s end.
Tchouameni’s career at Real Madrid
Aurelien Tchouameni made a total of 50 competitive appearances during his maiden season at Real Madrid.
Although the Frenchman was not entirely a first-team regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup, his stature in the team is expected to grow in the coming years.
Especially as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric move on at the end of the season, there is scope for Tchouameni to become a first-team regular in the Real Madrid midfield in the years to come.
The former AS Monaco starlet has already played a crucial role in the starting eleven so far this season and it is only going to continue as the season progresses.
