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Carlo Ancelotti, this Sunday at the Metropolitano. High-quality sports images (Getty Images)
Of the Madrid players who won the La Liga and Champions League 16 months ago, Carlo Ancelotti has very little left in the club’s eyes; he is healthy and at full strength. The names with which he triumphed have faded or disappeared for several reasons, and the new team that was supposed to emerge is not yet fighting. Courtois and Militão were seriously injured, Casemiro and Benzema left, and the noise surrounding Kroos and Modric has died down. The central spine of this set does not exist at the moment or is being discussed intramurally, and in its place are missing pieces (nine world-class ones), and what has emerged is still inadequate. The Bellingham Effect doesn’t fix everything.
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Oblak, Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina (Azpilicueta, Min. 64), Samuel Lino (Javi Galán, Min. 86), Savic, Giménez (Correa, Min. 85), Koke (Witsel, Min. 45), Saúl, Marcos Llorente , Griezmann and Morata (Depay, Min. 82)
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Arrizabalaga, Fran Garcia (Ferland Mendy, Min. 56), Alaba, Rüdiger, Lucas Vázquez (Nacho, Min. 56), Modric (Joselu, Min. 45), Kroos (Brahim Diaz, Min. 70), Camavinga (Aurelien Tchouameni , Min. 56), Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo
Goals 1-0 min 3: Morata. 2:0 minutes. 18: Griezmann. 2-1 min. 35: Kroos. 3-1 min 46: Morata.
referee Javier Alberola Rojas
Yellow cards Modric (min. 44), Giménez (min. 46), Ferland Mendy (min. 66) and Jude Bellingham (min. 95)
The meeting of the German (33 years old) and the Croatian (38) in the disaster of the Metropolitano, after they were not in the starting eleven at the same time this year, and the way in which the coach was encouraged to give more importance to the young people to admit, reflected the moment of indeterminacy that crosses the white line between what ends and what is expected. A risky bet for the Italian coach, which even surprised some Madrid staff, as they showed in some groups after the 3-1, while the Reggiolo coach could not fully understand the disastrous performance of the defense.
Carletto’s team is living in a trance, largely due to the lack of a top replacement for Benzema, who celebrated Saudi Arabia’s national day in uniform this weekend. An unhidable hole that has led the white coach, known for his lack of rebellion and effective pragmatism, to make a system change to exploit Bellingham’s scoring opportunities in an unbalanced squad with eight midfielders and only four pure attackers, of which one (Brahim) hardly told it.
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This Sunday, all lines were affected by the escape routes. The defense (without Militão) lacked penetration and the general defensive system lacked tension (five goals conceded in the first minutes of every act so far this season). Last year the shield had lost strength and the new design, as the coach admitted, is not the one that convinces him the most for the rearguard. Mendy, another pillar of the 14th Champions League season, is out due to numerous injuries and the signing of Fran García has not yet offered all the certainties.
On average, Casemiro sold, Madrid did not find a replacement. Tchouameni (80 million, the club’s fifth most expensive signing) faded after the World Cup and came on as a substitute at the Metropolitano. And the team has not emancipated itself from Kroos and Modric when it comes to shaping the game, but it is also not setting the pace in the most important events as before. Above, without a replacement for Benzema, the team acts like a tightrope walker and clings to Bellingham’s pole at this start. Rodrygo, who is expected to make a breakthrough in scoring, scored the first goal at San Mamés and then added 30 missed shots and a missed penalty.
Setting aside the shortcomings up front – Ancelotti demanded a top-level number nine but later accepted they wouldn’t get him one – the core of the debate about building a new Madrid today focuses on the centre, the area where the Most has been achieved. Invested since the pandemic: 130 million plus another as much for Bellingham. Specifically in Kroos and Modric, and even more so after their surprising lineup against Atlético at the same time. With the loss of Vinicius, the coach gave the Balkans a hint and, contrary to his previous approach, omitted Joselu and Tchouameni.
Meeting the core
Sending the two veterans was a very significant decision. The club had asked him to accelerate the generational change in this area, a measure he had taken in the six previous games without either taking responsibility at the same time. Then the Croatian’s substitution at half-time was interpreted as an admission of a mistake. A move that could potentially increase the dissatisfaction that Modric had already shown with his new role. Kroos had rather accepted it.
In the summer it was felt that this would be the most sensitive point in the squad management for the Italian, although his horizon as a possible Brazilian coach at the same time gives him the feeling of making decisions freely. In any case, the issue has increased in volume without reaching October.
A year ago, at the start of last season, Ancelotti met with Casemiro, Kroos and Modric and announced to them that their minutes would be reduced due to the emergence of fresh meat (especially Tchouameni and Camavinga). The three received the message professionally and accepted the challenge of survival. The first left a few days later, eager for the English adventure, but the other two eventually resisted and won unchallenged in the most difficult encounters. City’s 4-0, however, seemed to close that duopoly because of the signals sent out that night and because the club, in planning the new season, gave Ancelotti the comfort of taking another step in that transition, and they did at least in the original plan, they don’t coincide that often.
And in these he was present in the first duels until the German and the Croatian returned to the eleven on the night in which Atlético ate a Madrid ruined in defense. The bankruptcy was collective, especially in the background, although many looks ended in the decision to turn once again and simultaneously to the two most respected members of the old guard, due to the importance of their property in a time of journey towards a New Madrid that has not yet perished is.
The red-white setback forces Ancelotti to redefine roles in the next high-profile events or to insist on them for the time being.
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