Real Madrid have a midfield cause for concern ahead of Champions League clash

Despite the repeated struggles, it’s still a relevant concern. In Real Madrid’s hard-fought win in Vigo, Carlo Ancelotti managed to pull the team through a match where once again Aurélien Tchouameni seemed lost. The midfielder was playing his 100th game for Madrid at Balaídos and was once again a sea of uncertainty.

Tactically, he remains... sluggish. Ancelotti assigned him a very specific role against Giráldez’s Celta, acting as a “hybrid” between defensive midfielder and centre-back depending on whether Madrid was in attack or defense, but the experiment was far from successful. The first breakdown came in the 7th minute, and only Courtois’ left boot saved the team from disaster in a one-on-one with Swedberg. It was a clear warning sign.

Ancelotti’s admission

Even Carletto admitted that Tchouameni wasn’t well-prepared for that role, and the plan backfired. “He [Tchouameni] played, when we had the ball, between the two centre-backs. We had a balance problem in the first half because, if with the ball there were three [at the back], without it, he had to push forward... and we made mistakes. I didn’t explain it well...”.

Mistakes like the one that allowed Swedberg through, nearly causing major trouble. Ancelotti made adjustments at halftime, but instead of fixing the problem, it opened other gaps. Tchouameni remained invisible in the midfield, where he should have imposed his physicality and presence, especially considering Madrid’s vertical style of play.

He recovered just four balls in Vigo (the same as Camavinga and two fewer than Valverde, despite playing 30 minutes more than them), and his heat map showed him wandering in different areas but rarely controlling the central zone, which he is expected to dominate. A telling sign.

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Despite the clouds still looming over Tchouameni’s performances, Ancelotti seems reluctant to give him any time on the bench. In fact, the veteran coach often takes the opportunity to emphasise how “fundamental” Tchouameni is to his defensive setup.

The question remains: how much of that defensive solidity is truly down to Tchouameni’s broad shoulders, and how much can be attributed to the brilliance of Courtois? The Belgian goalkeeper has been in stellar form, boasting a 75.2 percent save success rate and delivering crucial performances. Vigo was the latest example, with the 3-1 win against Stuttgart serving as the clearest illustration of how Courtois has repeatedly saved the team from potential disaster.

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France and Madrid roles for Tchouameni

There is concern within the club regarding Tchouameni, though it hasn’t reached the point of sounding alarms. The support from his coach continues to buy him credit, and he hasn’t lost favor with the French national team either, where Deschamps shares Ancelotti’s view.

Tchouameni remains a fixture in both teams – and is even on the rise. During the recent international break, he was given the captain’s armband for Les Bleus in the controversial absence of Mbappé, who was rested. Despite the visible flaws and limited tactical flexibility, Tchouameni‘s position is not in jeopardy for now. Not even with Modric offering a technically superior alternative. Next up, Dortmund... then it’s El Clásico.