Real Madrid find themselves eight points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga, just one game into the second half of the league season. While they remain in the Copa del Rey, and unlike Barcelona, in the Champions League, the Real Madrid squad looks increasingly thin as injuries bite.
So far this season Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema have missed a number of games through injury, which no doubt has had serious consequences for their season. The pair were arguably the most decisive players for Real Madrid last season.
Yet if you add injuries to Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal, all of whom have missed multiple weeks through injury this season, it begins to have major impact on the season.
Real Madrid did not consider strengthening in the January window and as they manage several veteran stars, at times they have looked short of impetus. The likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have suffered in particular from the break, while Benzema has arguably not been 100% sharp all season.
Last campaign Los Blancos managed things carefully and perfectly in terms of rotation, but had the advantage of a relatively comfortable lead in La Liga. This season with the added games of Supercups, the Club World Cup and the strange fitness regime required by the World Cup, it has burdened Los Blancos greatly.
However there seems little appetite to address the matter. Despite his public discourse, Fichajes say that Ancelotti has been asking for reinforcements privately, but is almost powerless to influence the transfer policy at the Santiago Bernabeu.
This appears to be illustrated by the attitude to the right-back position. Reportedly, Real Madrid do not intend to strengthen at the position in the summer, instead persevering with Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez and potentially Vinicius Tobias, if they decide to activate his release clause in the summer.
There are doubts about Vazquez’s suitability to matches against top opposition as a right-back, while Carvajal’s level and fitness have fluctuated dramatically over the last two seasons. Tobias is well-liked at the club, but is something of an unknown quantity at this stage.
It confirms a concerning pattern for Madridistas. While the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos have stepped up in 2023, there is a reluctance to pad out the squad with quality options.
In recent history, Los Blancos have only pursued either major big money stars, wonderkids, or pricey free agents in the case of Antonio Rudiger and Alaba. There has been no attempt to add alternatives in their mid-to-late twenties to compete for positions.
The injuries this season were not unpredictable with an aging squad coming off a long season into a longer one. Yet there was no effort to add to the squad. While there is strength in depth in certain positions, had Ceballos not found his form, Los Blancos would be lost in midfield. At right-back they have reverted often to Nacho Fernandez, while moving Eduardo Camavinga to left-back. Particularly stark was the presence of Mariano Diaz when Real Madrid needed a goal against Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Last season went swimmingly for Real Madrid, with the squad managing two competitions just right. However rarely will they face such a poor challenge in La Liga and while their Champions League run was mythical, repeating it looks nigh-on impossible. As Real Madrid continue to rely heavily on the likes of Kroos, Modric and Benzema, they cannot afford to leave themselves short on depth next season.
RMA_forever
1
Selling Hakimi was a mistake and then to persist with injured Carvajal was a blunder. They better sell Carvajal and buy a RB. And no business policy in winters is rubbish. Look at Barcelona, they were in deep trouble sometime back but some activity in transfer window and they sit top of La Liga. Madrid should have reinforced, Atleast buy a no. 9.
Soecdilyz
0
now enough sack the perez
descarts
1
We need signings otherwise we will be beaten badly.
ThaiKa92
0
sign Cancelo or Hakim
Cancelo was offered for Madrid but they rejected him
teubdnpsz
0
Listen 👂 Florentino perez you're playing with real Madrid why can't you buying players you seeing problem in real Madrid now they can't winning mallorca look at Barcelona they're winning all the matches listen 👂 carefully talking to Vinicius Junior is not the only player in real Madrid the guy is talking to much
YoungMakito10
0
sign Hakimi or R. James
James is injury prone
OFFICIAL88
4
Blame Perezi cause he didn't want to spend money to buy players.
karimlucy
0
complicated
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You don't have right to hold my club jessy like that, my champion league is more than ur club kid
Wuwciklop
4
sign Cancelo or Hakim
SAH7
2
sign Hakimi or R. James
SAH7
0
We need Leao and A right back as soon as possible
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lol
SAH7
1
nope we don't need any player for the rest of history Just spend on building new stadium because it is more important than team situation 🙂
Strangerthings
0
We need Leao and A right back as soon as possible
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Leao and vini share a wing
Strangerthings
0
Even though we are rivals but I feel for Madrid with the injury crisis… Hope they recover soonest as possible.
I feel for every team with an injury crisis, it’s a problem I know too well. Having plays and not being to use that, very painful
Kingflick1689
2
I am ok with the squad,Carlo Ancelotti said😆,so what players do they need again😩😅😂😂
Crax
1
complicated
seadlpruy
0
We need Leao and A right back as soon as possible
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Keep on needing
zaeablmnp
1
they shouldn't have sold casimiro
tosdeipu
0
real Madrid needs to strengthen their squad nd d like Mairo dias should b sell out
I can't think far
tosdeipu
0
I don't know how they are thinking about
FaithEvans
0
this writer is just out of context. too many unqualified reference to the above topic.
what do you think the context should be?
Subhomadridista
2
Perez is our backup striker and butragueno is our backup rb no problem
vosaiklptz
0
Even though we are rivals but I feel for Madrid with the injury crisis… Hope they recover soonest as possible.
Catabiotu
2
real Madrid needs to strengthen their squad nd d like Mairo dias should b sell out
Simpler02
3
We need Leao and A right back as soon as possible
Senbdino
1
this writer is just out of context. too many unqualified reference to the above topic.