Real Madrid News
Tottenham Hotspur could rival Real Madrid for German coach – report
Bayern Munich’s decision to sack Julian Nagelsmann in the middle of the season may have a domino effect on the managerial market in Europe this coming summer.
Shortly after Nagelsmann was sacked, Thomas Tuchel, who was eyeing a potential job at Real Madrid, was hired as his replacement.
On the flip side, reports emerged in Spain stating that Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez had long-eyed a move for Nagelsmann due to his tactical prowess. However, the German has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur as well, as a potential replacement for Antonio Conte.
A recent report from Matt Law has offered an update on Nagelsmann’s future, suggesting that the young tactician is one of Spurs’ top coaching candidates right now. However, despite Spurs’ interest, Nagelsmann could still find himself on the Real Madrid radar this summer.
This is because the Spanish giants are actively looking for managerial options, amid uncertainty over the future of Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian has faced immense pressure due to Real Madrid’s poor performances in domestic competitions this season. He has also not been properly backed by the club and with the Brazilian national team waiting on the wings, many believe he will leave Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.
That is where Nagelsmann could prove to be an ideal option. With Real Madrid likely to undergo a massive transition in the near future, the German is the right man to manage the infusion of young players and build a proper identity.
However, it must be noted that Nagelsmann is not the only option for Real Madrid. There are also question marks over his man-management techniques, which is why the experienced Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly leading the race, in the bid to become the next Real Madrid coach.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
