The competition: Mendy, collateral victim?
The recruitment of a central defender like Rüdiger could possibly pose a threat to Real’s two hinge holders in Ancelotti’s 4-3-3: Eder Militão and David Alaba. This is not really the trend that emerges. The most likely option is to see the German associated with Militão in the axis of the Madrid defense without Alaba losing a starting status. The versatile Austrian is expected to switch to the left-back position, currently occupied by Ferland Mendy.
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The former Lyonnais would thus be the collateral victim of the arrival of Rüdiger. But he does not leave beaten in advance. The Frenchman has proven his importance in Ancelotti’s system. Indisputable holder on the left of the Madrid defense, he offered guarantees of reliability to a Madrid defense which lacked it when Marcelo was in charge. This is the major reason why Ancelotti aligns him almost systematically in his starting lineup. Thus, Mendy made a solid contribution to the brilliant season of Real, champion of Spain and Europe.
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But Marcelo’s competition isn’t the same as what awaits him with Alaba. The very offensive profile and the defensive gaps of the Brazilian, whose departure was recorded after 16 years of good and loyal service, played in favor of Mendy. Alaba is more complete. His ability to play both centrally and on one side of the defense says it all about his mastery of the art of defending. And the quality of his offensive contribution, through the quality of his passes, his crosses and his strikes, partly explains why Alaba also knows how to perform well in midfield. And why finding himself in competition with the Austrian looks like a worst-case scenario for Mendy.
The system: three-way defense, yes, but…
If so, a system change may eventually do Mendy’s business. The prospect of seeing Real switch to a three-centre-back scheme would make the tricolor full-back Carlo Ancelotti’s first option as a piston on the left side. In this configuration, Alaba would presumably occupy the left side of the Madrid defensive trio, Rüdiger the right side and Militão the axis. An option given credibility in particular by the quality of recovery from the Austrian and the German on the outings of the ball.
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But not only. If Real has secured the services of Rüdiger, it is because the German is certainly coming out of the two most successful seasons of his career with Chelsea. His level of performance rose with the arrival of Thomas Tuchel on the London bench a year and a half ago. And the choice of the former PSG coach to align a three-man defense is no stranger to it. Rüdiger seems quite clearly more comfortable in this system than in a defensive line with four elements. This would justify a change of system by Carlo Ancelotti.
But the Real coach does not necessarily see it that way. He has every reason to maintain a 4-3-3 pattern which has allowed the Madrid club to dominate Spain and Europe this season. The Italian is also not a follower of a three centre-back system. Throughout his (long) coaching career, he hardly ever used it. It only happened, occasionally, when he was at Everton. But at Real, whether in his first or second term, at Bayern, Napoli, PSG, Chelsea or Milan, ‘Carletto’ has consistently fielded four-piece defences.
This is part of the game principles of the Italian. They have allowed him to be so successful that the prospect of seeing him upset his system seems highly unlikely. Even with the arrival of Rüdiger. It is more intended to allow him to have a greater depth of manpower in defense and to widen his tactical range with more varied profiles. The arrival of the German international certainly changes the situation a bit at Real. But above all, she reminds us that places are very expensive at the White House.
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