MU Shorts
Three ways Real Madrid could line up with Jude Bellingham next season
Jude Bellingham is a jack of all trades with mastery of nearly every position in midfield.
Having officially completed his long-desired move to Real Madrid, the club now face the privileged problem of choosing the ideal set-up to field with their newly obtained swiss-army knife, especially with so many other options in midfield.
With the English star boy set to play a pivotal role in the upcoming 2023/2024 campaign, here are three ways the Merengues could line up with Bellingham next season.
1. 4-3-1-2
Bellingham scored 14 goals for Borussia Dortmund at the end of the last campaign, and manager Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly in favour of taking advantage of the Englishman’s offensive acumen.
Owing to the absence of a high-profile centre-forward, Real Madrid may have difficulties scoring goals next season. The plan is for Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo to spearhead the attack in the absence of Karim Benzema, and with Joselu serving as the backup striker.
Bellingham, directly behind the Brazilian pair, as a No. 10, possesses the ability to offer creativity between the lines as well as make late off-ball runs into the opposition box.
The England international can get on the ball to create high up the pitch and even take aim at goal. In 2022/23, he attempted 67 more shots than any other BVB player in the league.
The 4-3-1-2 formation is a far cry from what Los Blancos typically opt for but has the potential to extract the €103 million signing’s most effective attributes.
2. 4-2-3-1
In addition to thriving in an advanced setting, Bellingham also has the traits needed to execute a prominent role at the base of midfield. Without jeopardizing Vinicius’ impact on the left wing, the 4-2-3-1 enables Ancelotti to use his stacked midfield without hampering the attacking foundations.
Bellingham has garnered experience in a double-pivot set-up. By neutralising opposing assaults before they can even develop, he wields the ability to provide stability at the centre. His 35 interceptions were the second most for Dortmund last season.
Moreover, the double pivot likely gives rise to Eduardo Camavinga playing in a more comfortable environment, a position he has found considerable experience with at the French national team.
Bellingham and Camavinga have the potential to form a great duo in such a context, with Luka Modric as a No. 10. Conversely, the 19-year-old could continue as the attacking midfielder, with someone else playing as the pivot.
4-3-3
Even in Real Madrid’s classic 4-3-3 shape, Bellingham has the required framework to establish himself as a dependable figure in midfield. The formation extracts far more verticality and induces a sense of chaos that Madrid have, over the years, aligned themselves with.
Staying true to their identity while also providing the Englishman with a role he has found comfort in, Bellingham can showcase his abilities as a box-to-box midfielder.
Such a role aids the midfield both in defensive and offensive phases. Quick transitions and intense pressing would be the defining characteristics of Real Madrid’s midfield.
🏴 Jude Bellingham player characteristics:
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 15, 2023
✅ Strengths:
🟢 Dribbling
🟢 Passing
🟢 Through balls
🟢 Key passes
🟢 Tackling
❌ Weaknesses:
𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 https://t.co/ogYdG6LSza pic.twitter.com/gytswrCbye
Bellingham’s ability to convert defence into attack with his lung-busting runs with the ball is one of his most resounding qualities. He had the most completed dribbles in the Bundesliga last campaign (88), and his quick feet render him impossible to stop as he evades defenders with silky ball control, coupled with exceptionally quick direction changes.
Bellingham’s versatility allows him to play as part of a double pivot, box-to-box midfielder, and attacking midfielder. A lot of options now lie in Carlo Ancelotti’s hands, and the Italian must find the best combination to unleash Bellingham.
Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal, but the performance once again left a lot to be desired.
The result did little to hide the problems that continue to affect Jose Mourinho’s team, and the refereeing controversies became a talking point once more.
Yan Diomande’s second-half goal helped Los Blancos secure three valuable points. That said, Madrid struggled to establish sustained attacking control over the game.
There were some encouraging individual performances, but the same questions about the midfield, Arda Guler’s positioning and the team’s attacking structure cropped up.
Here are four things we learned from Real Madrid’s narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
Yan Diomande is ready to start more regularly
Diomande was easily Madrid’s most dangerous attacking player against Villarreal, and his decisive goal was a consequence of an impressive performance.
What makes the youngster particularly valuable is his willingness to attack defenders directly. Madrid have often looked hesitant in possession this season.
They have kept the ball and circulated it without necessarily focusing on one-v-one situations, which could be directly related to Vinicius Junior’s poor form.
Diomande offered something different in this regard. His directness forced full-backs into making decisions and opened up space for his team-mates.
With Vinicius now facing a potential suspension, Mourinho has an obvious opportunity to give Diomande greater responsibility.
Valverde-Tchouameni double pivot does not work
Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni are excellent footballers. That said, they do not seem to work well together for Madrid.
Both offer physicality, defensive awareness and the ability to cover large areas. Those qualities are important, particularly for a team that can be vulnerable when opponents counter-attack.
However, Madrid’s biggest problem against Villarreal was not a lack of defensive protection. It was their difficulty progressing the ball into dangerous areas.
Too often, both midfielders moved the ball sideways without offering a penetrating option that broke the Villarreal defence.
Valverde’s greatest strengths include his powerful running and ability to influence different phases of play.
He looked much better operating as a flank player than as a midfielder, and it is high time Mourinho started using Bernardo Silva more regularly.
Arda Guler is far more useful operating centrally
Guler’s positioning remains another important tactical question. The Turkey international possesses the vision, technical quality and passing range to influence the game and turn it in Madrid’s favour.
Against Villarreal, Madrid looked more fluid whenever Guler moved inside and helped connect the midfield with the forwards.
From central positions, he can receive between opposition lines, combine with Jude Bellingham and identify forward runs before defenders have time to react.
Even if Guler starts on the wing, his primary role has to be drifting inside and almost acting as a second No. 10 in build-up alongside Bellingham.
Having excellent attack-minded overlapping right-backs like Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold allows Guler to do just that.
Madrid must start using Guler more centrally in the coming weeks and make use of his excellent vision to improve their attacking structure.
A group of talented individuals
Perhaps the biggest concern is that Madrid continue to look more dangerous through individual moments of brilliance rather than collective play.
There is no shortage of quality. Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, Guler and Diomande all possess the ability to decide matches.
However, Mourinho is yet to identify a system that gives the team structure and allows these stars to thrive in unison.
When one player receives possession, team-mates should already be moving into positions that create multiple options.
Too often, Madrid’s attackers appear disconnected, leaving the player on the ball to solve the situation alone.
With a trip to the Spotify Camp Nou approaching, Madrid need to address this situation sooner rather than later.
Mourinho has the talent available. Now he needs to make those players function as a team if he harbours any hope of success in La Liga this season.
Jagadeesh Garapati
July 17, 2023 at 3:42 pm
He has most touches in final third. He has more dribbles. He is good at finishing. Then why not play him as a false 9 or no9.
We can’t play a 4-4-2 diamond, as we don’t have any strikers. We have wingers who stick to their touch lines. When you use that formation it typically becomes a 4-3-3 false 9.