Real Madrid are still unbeaten in La Liga this season with consecutive victories. But despite all the adjustments made by coach Carlo Ancelotti, in the effort to find a workable system that includes Kylian Mbappe, they are still showing signs of being stuck.
Los Blancos' 2-0 win over Villarreal on October 5 was a case in point. Villarreal dominated the first half but two individual moments of brilliance from Fede Valverde and Vinicius helped Real settle the score.
The "White Vultures" are increasingly dependent on Luka Modric in midfield. The 39-year-old midfielder started in Real's first 8 matches in La Liga this season. Remember, last season, Modric was just a reserve option.
Modric became the club's oldest player in the match against Celta, coming off the bench and assisting the winning goal with a defence-breaking pass. Modric becoming so important at the end of his career was clearly not in Real's plans.
As Los Blancos struggled to impose themselves, their formation changed. The front three of Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo were dropped when Real Madrid hosted Villarreal.
Mbappe and Vinicius started as the two strikers while Valverde, Camavinga, Modric and Bellingham formed a more powerful midfield. Against Celta, there was another change, with Bellingham and Vinicius on the wings, with Mbappe in the middle.
Ancelotti's preferred formation is pretty clear - only 12 Real Madrid players have played more than 500 minutes in La Liga this season. The most questionable position is probably whether Rodrygo or another midfielder will start. However, there are still too many changes to confuse Real Madrid.
In the first half against Celta, Ancelotti was unusually active on the touchline, the Italian doing his best to correct Tchouameni’s position as the midfielder dropped deeper, between Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger, to form a back three.
"Tchouameni played between the two centre-backs when we had the ball. But when we didn't have the ball, he was supposed to push forward. I didn't explain it clearly enough," Ancelotti admitted.
In-game adjustments are one thing, but a fundamental misunderstanding of a player's role is another. Such a mistake against an opponent like Barcelona could cost Los Blancos dearly.
"There has been a change. Some players have left and others have come. You have to adapt, and it's not a period of one or two months. Things will get better," goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said this week.
