The continued absence of the French Ferland Mendy and the muscular injuries of the Brazilian Marcelo have been the focus of the defensive problems suffered by the Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who has had to make unexpected decisions that affected the balance of his team and that They are relieved with the return of the two pure left-backs against Shakhtar.
The problem born in the left lane affected the entire Real Madrid defense at the start of the season due to the tests of Ancelotti, who has not found a substitute for guarantees and has varied his bet between David Alaba, Miguel Gutiérrez and Nacho Fernández.
The tibial periostitis suffered by Mendy was linked to muscle problems at the time of doing field work again and have caused Real Madrid to face games without their starting left-back since May 5. It was the date of his last appearance. In London, against Chelsea, in the elimination of the last edition of the Champions League. Since then not a meeting in the final stretch of the League or this season. More than five months of absence that his team has accused.
Because his replacement, Marcelo, has not found stability or a solution to the muscular problems that have marked his last months. When the position was his he could not start the course and at the time he was recovered, after receiving a single minute against Celta de Vigo on September 12, he was injured again when Ancelotti confessed that he was going to start the next match in Liga de Champions, in Milan against Inter.
Because Ancelotti has shown that experience is a degree for him and in duels against great rivals he opted for another option with a longer route than Miguel Gutiérrez. Given the situation that arose on the side, it should be the first option, but the coach chose to modify Alaba’s starting position.
Against Alavés and Levante, a footballer who arrived to assume the empty leadership after the goodbye of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane occupied the left lane. The appearance of Miguel came with victory, in the visit to Real Betis, and gave him continuity against Celta at the premiere of the Santiago Bernabéu. However, it was marked by two defensive actions in the rival’s goals. They did not cost points, but the youth squad did cost his position.
Nacho, who started as a center-back and went to the right side due to the continuous injuries of Dani Carvajal, also occupied the left in Milan’s European duel against Inter due to Marcelo’s new mishap. Ancelotti chose to renounce the offensive aspect of the side on that side and repeated against Valencia with two important wins.
The return to Miguel Gutiérrez lasted two games again, against Mallorca and the surprising hit against the Sheriff that again caused the weakest link to leave the defense. In the game lost against Espanyol, Nacho was once again the wild card, while he sent messages that he prefers to play central, again from band to band away from his favorite demarcation.
The European duel against Shakhtar Donetsk is the end of Ancelotti’s defensive problems, as he regains his two trusted left-backs and continues to wait for Carvajal to have everyone at his disposal. Neither Mendy nor Marcelo have competition rhythm, but they are already in a position to help in the search for the defensive stability that Real Madrid lacked.
EFE
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