Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Bellingham hype gone?: Real reasons Real Madrid is struggling
Credit: AS USA
Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Bellingham hype gone?: Real reasons Real Madrid is struggling
After Real Madrid’s loss at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, fans and experts are increasingly worried about the problems affecting the team. Despite having five players in the Ballon d’Or top ten, only Toni Kroos has retired, leaving a highly skilled lineup. Yet, Real Madrid is still struggling to score goals and defend well. Here, we break down the main issues affecting the team’s performance, from challenges in attack and defense to problems with team chemistry and tactical setups.
Real Madrid’s current struggles can be traced to a combination of structural, tactical, and players-related issues. One of the core challenges is from the adjustments required to integrate high-profile Kylian Mbappé. Although he is an attacking powerhouse, his preferred position on the left flank overlaps with Vinícius Jr., leading to positional clashes and diminishing their overall effectiveness. Without a true central striker, Real Madrid lacks a focal point for attacks, which has forced players like Mbappé and Vinícius to adapt to unfamiliar roles rather than maximizing their natural strengths
“For me, the problem is that he is not a centre-forward. Mbappe is not. Every time he plays with the national team as a No 9 he is not good. It’s not his position. But the problem is that Mbappé is a left winger but on the left here’s Vinicius, who’s the best in the world”. Karim Benzema In an interview for ‘El Chiringuito de Mega’.
The midfield has also seen significant change in dynamics. Losing Toni Kroos in the offseason and the aging of Luka Modrić have disrupted Real Madrid’s control and creativity in midfield, while younger players like Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde have struggled to fill this gap effectively. The absence of a stable midfield has reduced the flow of effective passes to the attacking players, making it harder to create consistent goal-scoring opportunities.
“We should be worried because the team isn’t playing well. We have to be more solid, more compact. We’ve conceded a lot of goals. The reality is what you see on the pitch, which is that we’re missing something.” Carlo Ancelotti said after the Tuesday match.
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Defensive challenges add to the problem. Real Madrid’s reliance on individual brilliance, such as magical moments from players like Jude Bellingham, has often caused deeper tactical problems. The backline struggles with maintaining team play, and players are frequently caught out of position. This vulnerability has been evident in high-profile games where Real Madrid has conceded goals due to lapses in defensive organization.
On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti, faces a complex puzzle of optimizing player roles and tactical adjustments, especially as he deals with a list of young talent mixed with aging players. The uncertainty surrounding ideal formations and player positions has led to inconsistency and affecting Real Madrid’s ability to dominate games effectively. As the La Liga continues in the weekend, fans look forward to a better Los Blancos.
Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Bellingham hype gone?: Real reasons Real Madrid is struggling
