Valverde worries

Fede Valverde missed an opportunity in Elche to question Carlo Ancelotti’s policy of minimum rotations and claim more minutes. A task that Camavinga did fulfill. The Uruguayan does not finish finding the rhythm after the sprain in his left knee that kept him out for a month at the end of October and almost the entire month of November. The charrúa had little impact on the team’s game the 72 minutes that Ancelotti gave him. The comparison with Camavinga, who started with Fede and left the field at the same time, shows it. Valverde recovered five balls, completed 38 passes (he missed five) and lost the ball eight times. The Frenchman, in the same time, made 11 recoveries, gave 51 passes (and missed another three) and recovered seven balls.

As the season progresses, Fede has lost prominence in the team. The campaign started in an unbeatable way for Valverde, who, benefited by Kroos’ injury, started in the first ten games. It seemed that, when the German returned, Ancelotti would use him as a regular resource to dose Modric and, to a lesser extent, Kroos (who enjoys more rest having retired from his national team), as Zidane already did in previous seasons. But the injury stopped him and, once he recovered, he found himself in a situation in which Ancelotti found an immovable eleven where only the Cup or very specific circumstances changed. He has gone from being the fourth most used player by Ancelotti to the 14th since he returned from injury.

Valverde has been a starter in four of the last seven games. There have been two Cup qualifiers against Alcoyano and Elche. The other two, the last league commitments of 2021 against Cádiz and Athletic, in which Modric was convalescing from coronavirus. Being a substitute in the other three games, he has been more decisive. His goal against Barcelona gave Madrid the pass to the Super Cup final, a competition that brings out the best in Valverde. The calendar is not with you. In the next Cup match, he will be fresh from the concentration with Uruguay, which is playing its chances of qualifying for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.