The most difficult puzzle for Ancelotti: five key injuries and changes in Valdebebas

Carlo Ancelotti had never used so many pages from his notebook. Not because he didn't like what he had written, but because it no longer served him any purpose.. In the summer, a Real Madrid was imagined with Courtois in goal and Militao as right center back, with Rüdiger and Alaba rotating on the left side of the center of defense. In just a few weeks, the blade ended up in the trash due to multiple breaks in the crusader.. Kepa arrived, Rüdiger became the leader of the defense and the white team remained at the top of their Champions group and at the top of the fight for the League. But now the challenge is even greater. The Madrid of the month of July no longer exists.

Throughout the first stretch of the season, the injuries of Vinicius (one month out), Ceballos, Arda Güler and Mendy had forced the Italian coach to move small pieces within the same idea. The rotation was very similar. Even the serious mishaps of Courtois and Militao did not cause drastic changes in the system. The notebook pages were useless, but the puzzle was relatively simple. Vinicius' injury gave Rodrygo more honors and the infinite possibilities offered by Tchouaméni, Kroos, Camavinga, Modric, Valverde and Bellingham in a chameleonic midfield kept the whites at the highest level. The puzzle now gives more headache.

Along with the long-term absences of Courtois and Militao, Ancelotti will be without Tchouaméni, Camavinga and Vinicius for many weeks. The former Monaco player, who suffered a broken toe, could return before Christmas, against Unión Berlin on December 12 or against Villarreal on the 17th.. His compatriot will have to wait longer after breaking the external lateral ligament in his knee and we will see if he can play in the Saudi Super Cup in January. The Brazilian, for his part, seems like he will not step on the grass until February due to a tear in his femoral biceps.

If Kroos is the '5', who plays Kroos?

There are three casualties that completely change the panorama of Madrid. Tchouaméni was the '5' of the team, the man who allowed Kroos to lean to the left when the ball was released. In his absence, Camavinga had replaced him at an extraordinary level, in that virtue that the Frenchman has of being able to play as '5', as an interior and even as a left back.. Without the two of them, Ancelotti only has the option of Kroos as a pivot, forcing him to use Modric more at the base of the play.. The Croatian, who has just played 180 minutes with his national team, has been entering and leaving an eleven in which he was not essential. The return of Ceballos, who could return against Cádiz, is more than necessary for the coaching staff. Neither Bellingham nor Valverde, indisputable, are that type of footballer.

The English and the Uruguayan will gain responsibility, even more so, without Vinicius. Madrid's new offensive plan will be born from his connection with Rodrygo and Joselu. Creating spaces for Vinicius is no longer an option. Camavinga's injury had made Ancelotti reflect on the need to return to the 4-3-3, with the Brazilian duo in attack along with Joselu and Valverde and Bellingham accompanying Kroos, but Vini's loss changes things and it seems that The idea in Valdebebas is to maintain the diamond and the two forwards, although with variations during the game.

Rodrygo will occupy the left sector, like Vinicius, starting from the 4-4-2, and Joselu will focus more on the center backs, leaving the right side to Carvajal and Valverde. Kroos, Modric, Bellingham and Ceballos will share the other three positions until Tchouaméni returns, almost at Christmas. And then there is Brahim, who should have minutes after his good performances, but whom Ancelotti has always placed in Bellingham's position, who continues to have shoulder problems.

All while changes are being experienced in Valdebebas. The plague of injuries has led to the departure of Niko Mihic, head of Madrid's medical services. The doubts regarding the recovery times of Arda Güler, who was included in a call-up but has not even made her debut, have been the last straw for the white team, where some were no longer happy with the recovery work that It was done during some rehabilitations.

Madrid now has seven games until the Christmas break, five in the League. Key moment.