Real Madrid: All attack, no defence

Ronaldo and Bale

Sample this, Cristiano Ronaldo on the right, Gareth Bale on the left and Karim Benzema in the middle. The trio would send shivers down the spine of any defensive lineup, across the world. And, mind you this isn’t some computer game XI; it is the attacking lineup of Real Madrid. Over the past few weeks the three have begun to gel, putting 6 goals past Sevilla, three past Rayo and two past the mighty Juventus. Florentino Perez seems to have got it right at least on the attacking front.

But something is ringing alarm bells at Madrid. The Madrid defence is in shambles. Lack of co-ordination, combination the problems are vast. There seems to utter chaos. Madrid as a matter of fact has never conceded two penalties in a league game and now they’ve conceded two penalties in two games on the trot.

What exactly is the problem? For starters the lineup of the defence. Not that Madrid don’t have quality defenders. As a matter fact they have one of the best defences in Europe at least on reputation. In Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos, they have two of the four Spanish national team first choice defenders. In Marcelo they have the best Brazilian left back and same can be said for his deputy Fabio Coentrao the Portuguese. In Raphael Varane they have one of the best young defenders and surely a future star. To top it all they have the gritty and erratic Pepe who on his day can stop any forward, unfortunately those days are few. Over the summer Madrid brought in the highly talented Dani Carvajal from Bayer Leverkusen. Carvajal in just one season had lit up the Bundesliga prompting Madrid to buy him back.

Such a defensive lineup would be an envy of quite a few, if not all. So wherein lays the problem. The problem is choosing the best four. Ancelotti, in his short stay as Madrid manager, has tried various permutations and combinations, but it’s that best combination that is still evading him. Whether it is Arbeloa (read experience) or Dani Carvajal (read youth) on the right. On the left it is either the speed demon Marcelo or the more calm Coentrao. At the heart of defence it is Ramos, Pepe or Varane though Ramos is an ever present. Ancelotti has tried it all so much so that he has never fielded the same lineup twice. In the Clasico, Ancelotti went a step ahead and played Varane and Pepe at the heart of defence and Ramos as a midfielder. The decision hugely backfired. In short, it’s just not clicking for Ancelotti. Madrid shipped in three goals against Sevilla and two against Rayo, conceding four penalties in the process. Mr. Ancelotti wake up.

Another problem for Bernabeu outfit was the extended absence of talisman Xabi Alonso through injury. Alonso in his natural instinct marshals the defence and provides extra cover for them, by staying just ahead of the back four. Illaramendi, though highly talented and a worthy successor, still has a long way to go and needs time to hone his skills. Fortunately, with Alonso back to full fitness, the defence can breathe a huge sigh of relief and so can Ancelotti.

At Madrid, a manager is expected to win La Liga or the Champions League, or both. But there is a sub clause the team needs to play attractive football. Ancelotti needs his team to play attractive football to please the VIP BOX at the Bernabeu and of course, the fans. But as long as his team, keep leaking goals for fun, I am sorry no one‘s happy.

Ancelotti needs to act, and act fast. And top of his list should be to decide a back four, agreed they will be a few tough decisions but Ancelotti will have to make them. A few grumpy heads is better than a grumpy Bernabeu. Once the back four is decided, a couple of games together and they’ll start gelling as a unit, and in the process stop goal fest. Time is precious and more so for Ancelotti, a certain Senor Perez is watching.