Real Madrid: Ancelotti wants to end the defensive weakness that generates doubts in the team
The defensive problems of Real Madrid are becoming more frequent and repetitive, so the Italian coach Ancelotti wants to end this in the bud and for this he must take some firm measures.
"I have to fix the problems of the defense. It is not possible to show that weakness in every game. I must put the team firm to demand concentration and forcefulness when the rival wants to do damage, so the defense must respond" these have been some words of the Italian coach.
This is how his public statements have de-emphasized the problem and argued these problems from the lack of defensive concentration, to later make it clear that in football you always suffer until the end.
Madrid's defensive problems
Ancelotti's statements have been with the aim of deflecting the team's defensive concerns a bit. Currently, Real Madrid is second in the League, but with one game less than the leader. He is also first in the Champions League group so in both competitions he is in privileged positions.
However, his defensive system has been showing many weaknesses in recent games, so it is a laziness that the Italian coach wants to end once and for all.
The Real Madrid team has had a very bad time against Shakhtar and suffered a lot against Rayo Vallecano, just as it happened with Elche. You suffer in football, but not because of the way Madrid does it.
It has been seen in all these matches how their players throw themselves back to defend the result and in the last match against Rayo Vallecano, they showed a laziness in the back that almost cost them a draw if not for the last defensive actions by Kroos and Courtois who cleared the balls almost from the goal line.
They were three games against not very strong rivals, so they were able to carry them forward despite the difficulties, but coach Carlos Ancelotti knows that against much stronger rivals, possibly others will be the final results if this is maintained.
That is why the Italian wants to solve this problem before having to face those types of rivals. Real Madrid has become a team that allows opponents to have many scoring chances and Toni Kroos or Courtois will not always appear to save them as happened against Rayo.
Lack of trust and security in the team
According to the analysis the day after the game against Rayo Vallecano, it was shown that the team is lacking security and confidence, especially in the last minutes when they have to defend the result.
It was possible to see a Rayo Vallecano that entered until the center of the field and nobody stopped them. Neither Militao nor Alaba were able to stop them and Kroos had to position himself as a third, central to try to counter the rival.
Ancelotti will have the obligation to ask his men for greater defensive precision that is not only capable of having zero in goal, but also that the midfielders and forwards, including Benzema, contribute in the defensive zone.
Both forwards and midfielders must start the pressure in the rival field to prevent the opponent from leaving with the ball played. Vinicius and Benzema will be the first to start this destructive mission of the rival game.
If the situation becomes critical, everyone will have the obligation to mark their peers and chase them if they go up to attack, this will allow them to avoid numerical superiority on the part of the attacker.
In extreme cases and with no way out, the mission will be to bounce the ball anywhere far from the goal. Madrid will stop playing short or wanting to go out playing with the ball at their feet, something that has been causing them problems in recent games both in the Champions League and in La Liga.
Carlos Ancelotti will be asking for greater concentration and decision so as not to leave any kind of gap in the defensive zone or not to give back passes that could end up costing a goal.