2023-08-03 20:16:21
Real Madrid’s classic summer tour of the US has come to an end. Ten days in which the North American country has traveled from west to east, four games with a balance of two wins and two losses. It is true that it is not convenient to draw hasty conclusions from the friendlies that take place under the summer sun. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s attempts to hit the key for the 2023-2024 season make some clear aspects to improve and the strengths of the white team.
The most obvious shadow is the defensive fragility. More than the six goals conceded in the last two games, the most alarming thing is the ease with which the Madrid defense concede chances to their rivals. The first goal conceded against Juventus is the best example of this. Four first-touch passes and an unmarked rebound in the face of white passivity led to Kean’s celebration. Although the Italian coach acknowledges that they are not used to having such a defensive weakness, he assures that it is “the easiest thing to improve because it is a problem of positioning, concentration and attitude.”
One of the reasons used by Ancelotti to explain it is the system. The Madrid coaching staff has moved away from its classic 4-3-3 to introduce a 4-4-2 with a diamond in the core According to what has been seen, the new formation has not finished convincing the white parish. The variation translates into greater control of possession with a more crowded midfield, but less offensive ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ and a weaker defensive withdrawal.
The two great stars of Madrid, Vinicius and Bellingham, must also adapt to the new system. the brazilian shine where i play and his ability to generate infinite chances is still intact. But his favorite place to do this is on the left flank, so if he must focus his position, the risk of limiting his threat is latent. For his part, the new idol of the Bernabéu astonished in the first games and faded in the last two. The Englishman came with a star band and it is enough to see him play not to doubt it. However, the demarcation of him as the point of the rhombus causes him to receive the ball from behind on many occasions and that he sees himself trapped by the rival midfield. The passing of the matches will definitively confirm or revoke the 4-4-2.
Another of the great musts in the white preseason has been the lack of success in front of the goal. He elevated to maximum power in the classic against Barcelona, in which he registered 28 shots and found himself five times with the post. The positive side that can be extracted is the great flow of occasions that he has generated. However, the low achievement capacity worries beyond the many failed on American soil.
scoring shortage
They have left Madrid during this market 43 goals, by the hand of Benzema and Asensio, and the only striker signed to replace them has been Joselu. The arrival of Kylian Mbappé would solve the white team’s scoring deficit with a stroke of the pen, but if the Frenchman ends up causing disappointment at the Bernabéu for the third consecutive summer, it looks like a sparse season both in forwards and in goals.
Ancelotti punctuates the white preseason with a six and he is sure about the improvement: «It is clear that it is what we have to solve. It is obvious”. Friendlies are still friendly and the Italian is aware of this. In a week, Madrid will visit San Mamés in their league debut. And, then, it will be possible to verify if his summer deficiencies are solved or if the 2023-2024 campaign begins with work to be done.
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