The numbers that reveal the lack of effectiveness of Ancelotti's rhombus: 6 goals in 91 shots

Every process of change requires a cycle of adaptation and learning. The key to success lies in the speed and efficiency in assuming the essence of the new direction. The departure of Benzema, the signing of Bellingham, the arrival of Joselu and the uncertainty about the fate of Mbappé have forced him to modify his usual system.

The 4-3-3 has evolved into a 4-4-2 with the geometry of the rhombus in the center of the field. A model that its players have tried to assimilate in a preseason tour of the United States that ended this Thursday with a feeling of necessary improvement. In their last meeting, Real Madrid lost (3-1) to Juventus in a game in which their defensive weakness and lack of gunpowder were once again evident against the opposing team. The only goal for the white squad was scored by Vinicius. Madrid made 34 shots, which represents a very low percentage of success. Instead, Juventus only launched 11 times. In the previous game of the tour, against Barcelona, the whites lost 3-0 and shot 29 times. In total: 63 shots to score a goal. Xavi Hernández's team launched 12 times.

He accumulated a little more aim in the other two previous games, resolved with victories: 3-2 against Milan (13 shots) and 2-0 against Manchester United (15 shots). The sum of the four games reflects 91 shots and only six goals. One target every 15 throws. The scoring average on the US tour has been 1.5 per game. The percentage in the last League was 1.9.

The numbers reveal the lack of success of Ancelotti's rhombus, but the coach assured this Thursday that this does not worry him. «At the offensive level there is no problem. In defense we have to improve… It has been a positive pre-season. The team is not used to defending with diamonds and we have conceded many goals against. balance has been lacking. We need to fix it,” he said.

«The defensive aspect is the easiest to improve because it is a problem of positioning, concentration and attitude. In offensive pressure we were very good, but fragile in the low block. Lowering the block a bit may be an option to consider for the future,” Ancelotti continued.

The result of the Italian's new system depends a lot on the type of players that occupy the vertices of the rhombus. Kroos is not a specialist in defending in the position of 5, his benefits fluctuate depending on how the interiors close. Camavinga is very versatile, but sometimes he disperses. Modric has not yet reached the optimal level of form. With Tchouameni, the team seems more solid, but with less imagination. In the other part of the diamond is Bellingham, who has played well but in bursts.

On a defensive level, the team has shown itself to be very open because it forces the full-backs to go up too much to make up for the lack of opening in the field, so if they lose the ball at the start (Lucas Vázquez and Nacho have been unsuccessful) they remain highly exposed to kickbacks.

Offensively, Vinicius has been the best on this tour, but he has performed better when he has not started from the position that is assumed for him in the rhombus, but in his natural one: the left wing. Ancelotti says that he prefers to play on the inside because he scores more goals but that he is the best in the world on the outside.

Madrid seals a pre-season tour with an improvable performance. The group is not comfortable with the new system and Ancelotti still has work to do before next week's debut at San Mamés. The Italian trusts his squad. «I keep the good things we have done, with mobility up and the opportunities we have had. It may happen that we are not successful because we are less fresh to finish, but it is not a problem. I have seen many good things in attack,” he said minutes after the end of the match against Juventus, reports Efe.

Ancelotti got a grade of 6, highlighted the arrival of Jude Bellingham (“I liked him a lot”) and positively assessed the performance of Fran García. “He has played very well. He has a lot of energy, he reaches the bottom line well, he puts in good crosses… he is a reliable player,” he declared.