“Physically we are to the limit and we cannot do nonsense ”. He said it Zinedine Zidane last Saturday, at the end of the Clásico that Real Madrid beat Barça in Valdebebas (2-1) and after replacing Kroos, Benzema and Vinicius with one stroke in the 72nd minute. The face of the Brazilian as he left the field reflected the exhaustion he felt after having starred in countless sprints.
The French coach used up that day five changes for the second consecutive day, something that had only happened once this year, on days 8 and 9; So far in the league, he has only made five changes in seven of the 30 games played.
Zidane admitted at the end of the Classic that his players were at their limit
The Real Madrid coach maintains a unwavering fidelity with his players: when they respond to him they know that they have their trust assured. Or seen from another perspective, the French trusts little (and very little depending on what cases) in the so-called 'unit B' of the white squad.
The data is overwhelming: eight members of the campus exceed 70% of minutes played this season; another five are between 40% and 70% and the rest, up to a total of 16, do not even reach 25% of the minutes played. Between 25% and 40% Not a single member of the staff appears in the minutes. Not one.
And if you look at participation in matches, 10 have participated in more than 80% of the 42 official meetings that the team adds, seven are in the range between 30% and 70% and the other twelve, below 30%.
Courtois, Mendy, Varane, Casemiro, Benzema, Modric, Kroos and Lucas Vázquez exceed 70% of the minutes played this course
The eight untouchables de Zidane have surnames. Courtois he has been a starter in 41 of 42 official matches). Mendy He has only stopped playing 12 minutes in the 16 games played since January 23. Varane add 35 complete matches. Casemiro He only rested in one of the 23 games played since December 23, which he played in full except for the minute he was lost due to his expulsion in the Classical. Benzema he has started 13 of the last 16 games; it wasn't when he was injured. Modric He has not had a break in these same 16 games, except for one (against Elche in Valdebebas) who started it on the bench. Kroos has 36 appearances with 23 complete matches and Lucas Vazquez (20 titles in a row between October 27 and January 23 and another 10 between February 20 and April 10) would be the Frenchman's ‘bodyguard’.
An elite group that could be added Sergio Ramos and Carvajal, who would certainly be at their level if they had not been victims this course of injuries. And Marco Asensio, Vinicius, Nacho and Valverde would be in a second group of ‘faithful’, already very far from the Marcelo, Rodrygo, Militao, Isco and company.
This is the ratio of minutes and games played by the 29 players that until now have been used by Zidane at some point in the season.
PLAYER / MINS (%) / PC (%)
Courtois / 3690 (96.9) / 41 (97.6)
Mendy / 3197 (83.9) / 37 (88.1)
Varane / 3195 (83.9) / 36 (85.7)
Casemiro / 3165 (83.1) / 37 (88.1)
Benzema / 3078 (80.8) / 36 (85.7)
Modric / 3036 (79.7) / 40 (95.2)
Kroos / 2923 (76.7) / 39 (92.9)
Lucas Vazquez / 2780 (73) / 34 (81)
Marco Asensio / 2165 (56.8) / 38 (90.5)
Vinicius / 2099 (55.1) / 39 (92.9)
Nacho / 2067 (54.3) / 24 (57.1)
Sergio Ramos / 1701 (44.6) / 20 (47.6)
Valverde / 1605 (42.1) / 28 (66.7)
Carvajal / 944 (24.8) / 12 (28.6)
Marcelo / 924 (24.3) / 12 (28.6)
Rodrygo / 867 (22.8) / 24 (57.1)
Militao / 829 (21.8) / 11 (26.2)
Isco / 828 (21.7) / 23 (54.8)
Hazard / 644 (16.9) / 14 (33.3)
Mariano / 565 (14.8) / 17 (40.5)
Odriozola / 391 (10.3) / 7 (16.7)
Odegaard / 367 (9.6) / 9 (21.4)
Jovic / 206 (5.4) / 5 (11.9)
Arribas / 140 (3.7) / 8 (19)
Victor Chust / 124 (3.3) / 2 (4.8)
Lunin / 120 (3.1) / 1 (2.4)
Marvin / 88 (2.3) / 3 (7.1)
Hugo Duro / 67 (1.8) / 3 (7.1)
Borja Mayoral / 22 (0.6) / 2 (4.8)