Ancelotti does not trust

Carlo Ancelotti has found his group of trusted players and it is increasingly difficult to get him out of that idea. There was a key moment in the season, the fateful week in which Madrid had two consecutive defeats (Sheriff and Espanyol). Both were accompanied by quite a few rotations and system changes. Since then, Ancelotti settled at 4-3-3 and relied on a small group of players who barely rotate.

The Italian coach himself, in the press conference prior to the match against Athletic, hinted that this will continue to be the usual trend. “The team dynamics are very good and I think rotating for rotating, no. If there is physical wear and tear, it is better to avoid risks. But if the player has recovered well … It is an evaluation that I do after each training session, “he said.

Ancelotti has his eleven type in mind: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema and Vinicius. From there, few come and go unless there are physical discomforts. In defense, for the moment, he only relies on Nacho to give the two centrals a break (he did it with Militao, against Granada, after the national team break, and he can do it with Alaba against Athletic) and at the top he usually rotates Rodrygo and Asensio on the right wing. Outside of those changes, there are few modifications in every eleven. It remains to be seen what happens in the center of the field, because he did give Valverde a lot of prominence before he was injured (The Uruguayan reappeared against Sevilla) and in Camavinga he has also trusted. The normal thing is that one of the two gives respite to the trio made up of Casemiro, Kroos and Modric, who for one more season are indisputable starters.

What does seem clear is that, for now, Ancelotti is going to give up massive rotations. With Zidane it was usual to see five or six changes in the eleven from one game to another, but Carletto is more cautious. When he gives breaks, as he has done with several players at specific moments, it will be with small modifications in the eleven and not with revolutions.