Real Madrid Transfer News & Rumors: Is Chicharito Unhappy? Has Carlo Ancelotti Misused His Depth?
Real Madrid is arguably the best club in the world. When one looks at Real Madrid, one sees class at every position.
The forward line, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema is undeniably the most dangerous in the world. The midfield trio, which features James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric (or Isco), is not only great with the ball at its feet but also capable of defending, as well. The backline, once a concern, has a variety of options with Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Marcelo and even Nacho Fernandez showing off the depth. And even in goal, Iker Casillas has shown that he can bounce back.
There were concerns over depth early on with the departure of Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria, as well as lingering questions over the roles of such players as Asier Illarramendi and Sami Khedira. Thus far, those concerns have been extinguished, but the biggest problem is how Madrid has managed the depth under Carlo Ancelotti.
A few days ago, Javier Hernandez had some choice words regarding his situation.
"I am not sure what will happen in the summer yet -- but whatever happens I need guarantees," he said. "I am 26 now -- in the summer I will be 27 -- I must be at a club where I am going to be playing regularly. Wherever I am playing next season -- I will make sure I have those sort of assurances."
This tells you exactly how he is feeling in his new situation. But he is not the only one that is likely unhappy or unsatisfied. And it brings to mind a major question: Has Ancelotti mismanaged his depth despite his brilliance at getting the best from his first team stars?
The Italian has managed to find a way to get this team firing on all cylinders in a way that was never anticipated, especially considering the terrific game that the team showcased last season.
But Ancelotti has done this by mainly relying on the same players time and again. One only need look at Isco and the lack of playing time he was getting in the early part of the season. Through Oct. 5, almost two months into the season, Isco had only managed to play a full 90 minutes twice and over 75 minutes just three times. In fact, in seven of those 10 matches, the gifted Spaniard had played a grand total of 25 minutes or less. Since then, he has shown off his tremendous play and has earned a lot more time. But a lot of that has come because of injuries to Gareth Bale and Modric.
But Isco's emergence has created more uncertainty for other players on the squad, mainly Khedira and Illarramendi. The latter player is of arguably greater importance regarding this article. Khedira is undoubtedly a tremendous player when healthy. But his contract is up this summer, and it is almost widely assumed that the team will let him leave. He is one of six players competing for a midfield spot that clearly has a favored trio by Ancelotti.
But it is Illarramendi who is somewhat in limbo. He has gotten his share of minutes as a sub (he has only started one of eight games in La Liga and one of four in the Champions League). In fact, he has only gotten a full 90 minutes in the Spanish league or Champions League twice. He is young, but he was brought in during the summer of 2013 to replace Xabi Alonso. Alonso is gone, and yet Illarra (his nickname) is still a bench player.
And unfortunately for him, his chances of becoming a regular starter in that position seem to be diminishing daily. Kroos has taken ownership of that position, and the German is not only becoming solid defensively; he's also terrific moving forward. When Modric went down with injury, many wondered whether this would be an opportunity for Kroos to move forward in the midfield and allow Illarra to step into the holding position. This would undoubtedly afford the team greater balance on the pitch. But even here Ancelotti opted for Isco in a seeming 4-2-1-3 formation.
At age 24, the Spaniard is on the cusp of his prime, but sitting on the bench will not allow him to develop those skills. He is likely to be the first one to know it, and he will likely look elsewhere to ply his trade.
"Chicharito" was brought in to give offensive depth and also allow striker Karim Benzema more rest. But the Mexican has barely played for his new club. He has obtained one start in six total games played in the league, despite scoring three goals.
Goalie Keylor Navas also has a complex issue to deal with. He was expected to be the main man to replace Iker Casillas but has wound up as the backup the entire year. Moreover, there have been rumors that David de Gea could be a target for the club, thus leaving Navas in limbo regarding his status. He might also want to leave to play out his prime years on a better club.
So has Ancelotti misused his depth thus far? It is still early, and the manager could make big changes in the second half. But it seems unlikely. Why would he rotate more readily during the Champions League knockout rounds unless he has an insurmountable lead heading into the second leg? But can he even count on that? And the Spanish League race looks as tight as ever, and he is unlikely to step off the gas unless he has a massive lead in the standings.
With all of these players tired of their unstable situation, he is likely to leave Madrid with less depth and potentially more issues in bringing players as replacement. What big name is really going to want to come to ride the pine next year? But even considering the rest of this season, why has Ancelotti felt so reluctant to sit Rodriguez and Kroos when he has ample replacements on the bench to give them more time to relax.? Early on, it was about getting the midfield to gel. But it has not only gelled but also exceeded expectations tremendously. Now it has to be about rest and long term.
It will be interesting to see how Ancelotti handles his depth and whether he can keep his club happy.
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