When it comes to Real Madrid, success is expected and demanded.
In the Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane era, they were the pinnacle of the footballing world.
Able to attract any name they wanted (which still hasn’t changed) and seemingly winning Champions Leagues for fun. The problem was, no one could really pinpoint a default play style as to what worked so well.
It wasn’t a problem then because you had elite players who could consistently bail you out. What many forget during that period though were the players that held the team together as glue.
The unsung heroes: Joselu, Casemiro, Lucas Vazquez, they’ve all gone and now it’s a squad chock full of superstars who struggle to play as a team because their own personal gain is more important.
Xabi Alonso may have left but it doesn’t mean the problems left with him.
In this piece, we’ll cover why Real Madrid have problems tactically and
In this article we’ll cover
No Connection between Mbappe and Vinicius Junior
In 69 matches that Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have played together, Mbappe has scored 13 that were assisted by the Brazilian and the former Flamengo player has scored 3 that Mbappe provided.
It’s a farcry from the connection Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema had. This is mainly because naturally, both of their games are best utilised on the wing cutting in. Neither have a ‘connector’ striker to play off.
A forward who selflessly elevates the two. Thibaut Courtois as recently as last season when they lost against Arsenal in the Champions League remonstrated that the team missed a striker of his ilk.
Not only for his aerial presence but because by having a centre-forward you can pin centre-backs deeper in their own half and create space for the other two.
There is no way we have seen the best of the partnership yet. We are talking about two of the best players in the world who you can build attacks around alone and yet, they can’t combine and feed off each other.
If you look at the graphic above, both of them end up in similar areas.
Think about some of the deadliest footballing attacks of all time, their strength was in complimenting each other.
The relationship Benzema and Vinicius had was one of master and apprentice, it felt like Benzema taught Vinicius what it meant to be a Real Madrid player and he provided for him aptly.
The Champions League they won in 2022, they attacked teams basically on their own, why on earth can Mbappe and Vinicius Junior not do that?
They are both a combination of what Madrid are about, either buying superstars or discovering players who are young and developing them.
The Vincius Issue
Vincius became the spearhead of the team when he broke out and became elite.
But it’s painfully obvious that whatever happened before the Balon D’or effected him, he’s not been the same player.
Even if he was, his hot and cold relationship with Alonso was a genuine headache for the manager and that simply should never happen.
For the moment, Alvaro Arbeloa is choosing to appease him, but there was a moment where the winger came over and gesticulated to the manager during the crashing loss to Albacete in the Copa del Rey.
This wouldn’t happen at any other elite club, or if it did, the player would be dealt with.
Appeasing Vincius is fine, but his stats by comparison season on season have gotten worse since his 23/24 swansong that led Madrid to another Champions League.
It’s a little astonishing that you have to manage the players as a priority and then even if you do that, they possibly won’t listen to the tactics that you want to instil in a manager.
It’s why selfless players that made the machine work were priceless. Federico Valverde comes to mind but then you lose the creativity of having Arda Guler and you have to play Aurelien Tchouameni.
I haven’t even mentioned Jude Bellingham in the midfield category but you can see the issues.
It’s like having all the riches in the world and having the problem of not knowing how to fit them in.
The more you think about it, the more realistic a scenario it becomes for Florentino Perez to beg Zinedine Zidane to come back.
He handled Cristiano Ronaldo and co and commands instant respect.
Away from the tactical problem that Madrid have in attack though, the biggest concern may be that it is a team chock full of young elite players that want to prove their the best but don’t have the similar temperament of the players of the past.
It sounds cliche, but the next four months are vitally important. Los Blancos are having to play an extra game to qualify for the Champions League, that’s not a disaster but it can turn into one at Real Madrid.
There is question marks over how long Arbeloa is in charge because nobody seems to know.
He is in as a caretaker, but in terms of hiring a manager, Alonso was one of the most sought after managers in the world when he came in and he couldn’t grab a handle on the players.
If they were to go back in the market, who would be the right manager? It doesn’t feel as though there is a definitive answer because how unique the job is.
It’s fine having the best talent in the world but if you don’t know how to keep everyone happy you’ll run into trouble.
Real Madrid’s pressure cooker is at boiling point, they need someone to take the heat off and soon.