After dealing with the crisis between the sticks, the Mesut Özil
crisis, the systemic crisis, the 'number 9' crisis and the derby crisis,
Ancelotti now needs to deal with doubts surrounding the centre of his
defence. The Real Madrid manager will need to decide who to choose at
centre back for a fast-approaching and vital run of four games
(Málaga-Juventus-Barcelona-Sevilla), which will essentially show if
Carletto's side is going to perform like a finely-tuned Ferrari or a
Fiat with a flat tyre.
Ancelotti is looking for a stable pairing that can add some backbone
to a defence that has been just one of the many concerns for Real Madrid
so far this season.
The team's defensive frailties have been caused by both full backs
pushing up the pitch at the same time, by the front four failing to
track back and the inability of the two holding midfielders to cover
every gap, which has meant that the central defenders have been left
exposed on more than one occasion in every game played so far.
Despite the actual number of goals shipped not being as alarming as
the lack of footballing talent on show, the fact of the matter is that
the 'Blancos' have only managed to keep a clean sheet twice so far this
season – against Granada at Los Cármenes and Copenhagen at the Bernabéu –
in ten games that were all supposed to be comfy wins, apart from
Atlético's visit to the Bernabéu of course - the memory of which will
still be hurting Ancelotti and his boys.
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