The phrase is from a recent tenant on the Madrid bench: “There are 24 footballers and part of my job is to decide who plays. It is not the most pleasant part, surely.” It was pronounced by Solari in his brief stage as a white coach. A blessed problem, many coaches will think when they see the squad that Ancelotti has. But there are decisions in which Carletto he has less and less room to meditate. Regarding the composition of his attack trident, it seems, due to the actions of some and the omission of others, that he will not have to think much about his alignments …
Determined to maintain the 4-3-3, Ancelotti looks for the piece that is missing in the attack. Benzema is a fixed whose presence is out of the question. And Vinicius, with his performance, has earned to accompany him on his left side. The only square open to competition is the one on the far right. And although the competition for that position is intense, one candidate stands out above the rest: Rodrygo. The Brazilian, who starts against Shakhtar and in the Clásico, gave up his place in the eleven to Asensio. The Spaniard returned to curdle a more than discreet game.
La Liga Santander
* Data updated as of October 28, 2021
No galactic signings, reuniting Benzema, Bale and Hazard in the attack was one of the great hopes of the summer. A new opportunity for a BBH that did not materialize two seasons ago, despite Zidane’s efforts to rehabilitate Bale at the start of the campaign. Bale was once again a victim of injuries and his attitude and Hazard was also nursing meat when some glimpses of his virtues began to appear.
The illusions did not take long to vanish. Vinicius only needed two games to eat Hazard’s toast, far from optimal physical condition again. The Belgian has given no arguments to overthrow Friends of his acquired status of holder. “Hazard’s problem is that the coach now prefers someone else,” Ancelotti said in the preview of the match against Osasuna. The Brazilian has not left the starting eleven since he got on that train. And Bale after the first selection break, returned the way he used to. He has not worn the Madrid shirt for two months due to hamstring problems. Ancelotti, in the best of scenarios, does not expect to have him until the game against Rayo (November 6), just in the last game before the next national team break.
Rodrygo Goes general statistics.
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With the 4-3-3, Ancelotti has tested Vinicius on the right (punctually, to make room for Hazard); Lucas Vázquez, who according to Carvajal reaches his optimal form, will once again be an option for the attack; and Rodrygo. Valverde and the paulista have played in that band in the 4-4-2. Of all the formulas, the one that has worked best is that of the former Santos player. Rodrygo has been in the victories in Kiev and at the Camp Nou (with the first system) and in the defeat of Mallorca, with the 4-4-2. Also in the game against Villarreal, the first cross on the path of the Whites’ season.
Although Asensio is the team’s third top scorer, his contribution is limited to hat-trick against Mallorca and the center with which he assisted Benzema in the 0-5 against Shakhtar. Rodrygo, before scoring in Kiev, scored the only goal of the match against Inter and assisted Alaba in the first goal of the Clásico. With Valverde and Bale KO still several days and Lucas Vázquez pending as a replacement for Carvajal, Rodrygo is sustained as the safest bet for Ancelotti.