MU Shorts
Two reasons why Real Madrid must sign a defender in January
Real Madrid’s recent match against Celta Vigo revealed significant concerns for the club, especially for the manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
While the game may have entertained the neutral, it was anything but satisfying for the Real Madrid manager. The team’s performance raised many questions, particularly regarding their defensive capabilities and the overall stability of the squad.
For the majority of the game, it was Celta Vigo who posed the greater attacking threat. Real Madrid, despite their reputation as European champions, struggled to control the match.
This struggle was reflected in their statistics. They managed only three shots on target from a total of 10 attempts.
In contrast, Celta Vigo registered five shots on target out of 13 attempts. These figures highlight the troubling state of Real Madrid’s performance, especially when they should be showcasing their superiority against such opponents.
Interestingly, last night’s outing was not just a one-off problem. It exposed ongoing issues within the team that have plagued them throughout the season.
One of the biggest concerns has been the fitness of key players. Dani Carvajal’s long-term injury has only worsened the situation, and with other players also struggling to stay fit, the team’s defensive unit is being stretched thin.
Despite these mounting problems, Real Madrid have consistently refused to sign new players in the January transfer window, sticking to their belief that bringing in new talent mid-season could disrupt team chemistry.
However, given the current state of their defence, this reluctance seems more like a risk than a strategic decision.
At this point, it is becoming increasingly clear that Real Madrid may need to rethink their approach and consider signing a new defender in January. Here’s why.
The current lot is not performing
One of the most pressing concerns for Carlo Ancelotti is the underperformance of his current defenders. Injuries to key players like Carvajal and the delayed recovery of David David Alaba have left Real Madrid vulnerable at the back.
Ancelotti has been forced to patch up his defence as best as he can, but the solutions have not been effective enough.
Eder Militao, for instance, has been plagued by muscular problems, but due to the lack of competition for his position, he is forced to play despite not being fully fit.
Without pressure from a capable competitor, Militao’s performances have dipped below his usual standard. The same can be said for Antonio Rudiger. When he first joined Real Madrid, he had to compete with Nacho for a starting spot.
This competition pushed both players to perform at their highest level. However, with Nacho no longer a direct rival, Rudiger has become too comfortable, and his performances, particularly on the left side of defence, have been inconsistent.
The lack of depth and competition in defence is causing serious problems for Real Madrid, and it’s affecting the team’s overall stability.
Real Madrid are a house of cards
The defensive problems are not just limited to individual performances. As a unit, Real Madrid’s defence has become increasingly fragile.
The team is no longer able to maintain a compact shape, and the distance between the attack, midfield, and defence has grown, leaving large gaps for opponents to exploit.
This was evident in the match against Celta Vigo, where there was a noticeable lack of coordination among the players.
The situation could have been much worse if not for the heroics of Thibaut Courtois in goal, who made several crucial saves to prevent a defensive collapse.
Real Madrid’s defensive instability is not just a tactical issue—it is a crisis waiting to happen. If one more player gets injured, the situation could spiral out of control.
Ancelotti is already working with a thin squad, and any further absences would leave him with very limited options. Even the youth players who could potentially step in, like Joan Martinez and Jacobo Ramon, are currently sidelined with injuries.
Real Madrid’s defence is a ticking time bomb, and the club can no longer afford to ignore it. Whether it is a full-back or a centre-back, the team urgently needs to bring in a new defender.
The January transfer window offers the perfect opportunity to address this issue before it escalates further. Failing to do so could see Real Madrid’s season derailed by injuries and underperformance.
Real Madrid will be eager to move to the top of the La Liga standings as they get set to take on Real Betis in a Matchday 4 fixture in La Liga tonight.
Under new manager Jose Mourinho, the Merengues have made a strong start to the season, winning three in three, with their latest match ending in a 4-0 triumph against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The fact that superstars like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr. have made strong starts to the season, while new signings Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konate have also made positive impact bodes well for Los Blancos.
The aim will be to secure their fourth victory in a row and continue building the momentum especially with the UEFA Champions League opener against Inter Milan coming up next.
Going into the game, though, Real Madrid will once again be without as many as seven players as Aurelien Tchouameni, Endrick, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo Goes, Thiago Pitarch, and Raul Asencio remain unavailable.
New teenage signing Sergio Martinez has been named in the squad and could be in line for his debut at Estadio de La Cartuja tonight.
Having made some rotations to the starting XI last time out against Malaga, here’s how Mourinho could set his Real Madrid team up tonight.
Defence
Thibaut Courtois is a confirmed starter in goal for Real Madrid and will be looking for his second clean sheet of the new campaign.
As for the defensive line, there is likely to be only one change with Ibrahima Konate coming back into the team in place of Antonio Rudiger, who made his first start of the season vs Malaga.
Dean Huijsen has been a constant fixture at the heart of the defence so far and that is unlikely to change.
At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold appears set to retain his place after an impressive display in his first start of the season last weekend. It means, new signing Denzel Dumfries will remain on the bench. Marc Cucurella, meanwhile, should start again on the left side.
Midfield
Bernardo Silva was one of the players that Mourinho rotated against Malaga, and is expected to return to the lineup tonight against Real Betis.
The Portuguese international has done fairly well in his new role as part of the double pivot alongside Federico Valverde, who will retain his place in the team.
It would mean Eduardo Camavinga misses out after having a decent game on his first start of the season last weekend.
Jude Bellingham has been in spectacular form since the start of the season, already racking up two goals and two assists from three games. Back in his preferred role as an attacking midfielder, he will start there again tonight.
Attack
Moving into the attacking unit, Mourinho is expected to make one key change as Arda Guler should replace Brahim Diaz on the right flank after scoring Real Madrid’s fourth goal against Malaga coming on as a substitute.
What it also means is that blockbuster summer signing Yan Diomande will have to wait for his first start for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe has already scored four goals in three games, making a blistering start to the season and will be aiming to build on that as he chases a hat-trick of Pichichi Trophies.
Rounding off the attacking trident will be superstar Vinicius Jr., who will also be hoping to get among the goals.
Al
October 26, 2024 at 12:36 am
Activate buy clause on Miguel and Rafa. Both are great. Why buy another Galacticos while Real have their own. Follow like Barca. They are unstoppable.