Published 2024-04-09 10.16
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When Vinicius Junior was suspended, Rodrygo danced on the left wing.
And once again it highlights a more or less alarming issue for Carlo Ancelotti.
How do you really get the most out of the team’s other star brass?
- Real Madrid brass star Rodrygo has been outstanding both with and without his Brazilian team-mate Vinicius Junior, but statistics indicate that Rodrygo performs better when he plays without Vinicius.
- The switch to a more 4-4-2 positioning in the team in favor of new England signing Jude Bellingham has created more concerns for Rodrygo, who is not comfortable in the role of number nine.
- Rodrygo’s future position in the team may be questioned with the arrival of new stars such as Kylian Mbappé and super talent Endrick, despite his successful performance in the team.
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In the summer of 2019, a then 18-year-old Rodrygo Goes came to Real Madrid. Dot one year after his compatriot, Vinicius Junior, arrived in the Spanish capital.
There is no doubt that it is the latter who has received the most attention, received the most headlines, scored the most goals and built the most star power in the almost five years that have passed since then.
But there is also no doubt that even the signing of Rodrygo was successful with hindsight.
If nothing else, he has been a player who, despite his young age, has grown into a key piece, like Vini, in the Madrid attack. Above all, it has been one player who has stepped forward in the biggest matches.
It was Rodrygo who with both goals decided the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna last year. The year before that, it was Rodrygo who pushed the dramatic Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea into extra time. And it was Rodrygo who did the same, with two goals, in the even more dramatic and crazy semi-final against Manchester City.
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full screen Rodryga Photo: Florencia Tan Jun / Getty Images
An opposition that Real Madrid now faces again in the Champions League, however this year already in the quarter-finals after two straight semi-final clashes.
Before Tuesday’s meeting, however, a debate and discussion has flared up around the 22-year-old Rodrygo – a far from new discussion, it must be said.
Does Rodrygo really get the place and the space, in this Real Madrid, that he needs to be the best he can be?
Better without the radar partner according to the statistics
In Real Madrid’s last league match, at home against Athletic Club, Rodrygo’s Brazilian radar partner Vini Junior was missing due to suspension. Which meant that Rodrygo had to play in the left forward position that Vinicius Junior made his own.
The position where Rodrygo really enjoys the best.
Two world-class individual performances yielded two goals. And the fact is that it was not surprising to anyone who followed Rodrygo in a Madrid shirt.
Although Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are described as a Brazilian under-the-radar pair, the statistics this season say otherwise.
Because in the eleven competitive matches (including the last match against Athletic Club) that Rodrygo played without Vinicius, there have been eight goals.
On the 32 he played together with Vinicius? A total of seven.
Whether Rodrygo’s development and scoring production is prevented by Vini Juniors on the left wing is one thing.
But the fact is that it is perhaps even more so another addition to the squad that has made things more difficult on an individual level for the brass. The arrival of the successful English signing Jude Bellingham (the team’s top scorer this season) in the Madrid squad has made Ancelotti go from a pure 4–3–3 to more of a 4–4–2. With Bellingham behind an all-Brazilian forward duo.
For Vinicius Junior, it honestly hasn’t made a huge difference, he finds his spaces on the left wing and drives out there regardless.
But for Rodrygo, the adjustment initially meant all the more trouble.
– I like to play more as a game distributor and on the edges. I just don’t like the number nine role, but I play there because I believe in our coach. But my qualities are not suitable for that. I don’t want to play with my back to the goal, I want to be involved and as a nine you can’t touch the ball as often, said the brass in connection with a national team meeting last winter, according to AS.
“He’s good everywhere”
Having said that, the respect between him and coach Carlo Ancelotti still seems to be great and mutual. Rodrygo has often described the Italian master coach as a kind of father figure. And Ancelotti often praises his young attacking adept.
– I think he is good everywhere, even if people say he is better on the left. Remember he scored two goals playing on the right in a Champions League semi-final. He is a fantastic striker, even if he doesn’t always hit the target, Ancelotti continued the press conference after the victory against Athletic last time.
The relationship with his fellow forwards also appears to be much more friendly than competitive in nature.
He is included after all, along with both Vini Jr. and Bellingham, in a trio that is just being marketed as a new offensive star trio. In a way that Real Madrid have not seen since the “BBC” days with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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1 / 2Foto: Jose Breton / AP
With that in mind, the next question comes – what will it be like next season when another star will enter the equation?
Can be poked for Mbappé?
Although not officially confirmed in any way, it is a poorly kept secret that Kylian Mbappé appears to be on his way to Real Madrid when his PSG contract expires this summer.
A forward who also, really, thrives best when he gets to start from areas on a left wing. That Mbappé will have to adapt to Vinicius Junior on that part feels obvious in advance.
But is there still room for Rodrygo?
A front trio of Vinicius Junior-Kylian Mbappé-Rodrygo, with Jude Bellingham as creator behind, feels absolutely realistic. But would it be too offensively forward to only play two of Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos and maybe even Luka Modric (if he also stays for another year as Toni Kroos is said to do)? The other, perhaps more logical, alternative is that Kylian Mbappé steps straight into Rodrygo’s position.
Add to that the super talent Endrick, who is confirmed to also join this summer, should be factored into the playing time equation as well.
– Yes, of course, Rodrygo himself answered earlier in the season to a press conference question as to whether he wants the club to sign PSG’s French star.
At the same time, one can ask whether it would really be the best for Rodrygo’s opportunities. Not only his opportunity to play where he is most comfortable but for his playing time and development in general.
After all, there are Premier League move rumors surrounding Rodrygo for a reason.
Although the rumors are so far highly unlikely and unconfirmed, it is not unreasonable to feel that, on an individual level, he could have raised another level on an Arsenal left wing or in a Liverpool forward trio.
If nothing else, he would have been able to get the star status and tailor-made role that Real Madrid still couldn’t give him.
The question is whether they will actually ever be able to.
Except when other stars are missing.
Champions League 2024: How the quarter-finals are played – dates and TV times
Champions League 9 april
- 9 p.m. Arsenal – Bayern Munich (TV4 Sport Live 2 & TV4 Play)
- 21.00 Real Madrid – Manchester City (TV4 Football & TV4 Play)
Champions League 10 april
- Atlético Madrid – Borussia Dortmund (TV4 Sport Live 2 & TV4 Play)
- PSG – Barcelona (TV4 Football & TV4 Play)
Champions League 16 april
- Barcelona-PSG (TV4 Football & TV4 Play)
- Borussia Dortmund-Atletico Madrid (TV4 Sport Live 1 & TV4 Play)
Champions League 17 april
- Bayern Munich-Arsenal (TV Football and TV4 Play)
- Manchester City-Real Madrid (TV4 & TV4 Play)
Then the semi-finals are played
The winner of Atlético Madrid – Borussia Dortmund faces the winner of PSG – Barcelona.
The winner of Arsenal – Bayern Munich will face the winner of Real Madrid – Manchester City.
The semi-finals on 30 April/1 May and 7/8 May.
The final will be played at Wembley in London, June 1.