Real Madrid News
Real Madrid will no longer use the five-man defense from now – report
Recent reports from Jose Felix Diaz in MARCA reveal a significant tactical shift for Real Madrid as they prepare for upcoming matches against Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
The coaching staff has decided to abandon their previous strategy of relying on three defenders and will instead implement a four-defender formation. This change will see Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez taking up the roles of full-backs.
A strategic decision
The main objective of this new approach is to allow each player to focus on their strengths and skills within the framework of the team’s overall strategy.
By assigning clear responsibilities, the coaching staff aims to avoid unnecessary complications on the field.
This means that there will be two central defenders, and star midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to return to his preferred position at the top of a diamond formation.
It is said that Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching team have been working to address various challenges posed by injuries and the absence of key players throughout the season.
Need for changes
A recent example of this tactical experimentation occurred during the match against Celta Vigo, where Aurelien Tchouameni was positioned as a third central defender when Real Madrid had possession of the ball.
However, this strategy revealed some weaknesses, as Tchouameni struggled to adapt to this role, indicating that the team needs a more coherent structure to meet its goals.
While running and physical effort are emphasised as essential duties for every player, the coaching staff stresses that this should not come at the expense of individual talent.
Expectations vs reality
To put things in perspective, in the summer, many anticipated a midfield trio of Eduardo Camavinga, Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde.
However, the reality has shown that Real Madrid performs at its best when Luka Modric is on the field.
Ultimately, though, the team’s performance against strong opponents will be a telling indicator of whether these adjustments yield positive results.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
