Real Madrid: Let’s give Dani Carvajal some love

Real Madrid right back Dani Carvajal has been regarded as one of the best players at the position over the past several years, and he had yet another quality season in Los Blancos’ back four.

As was the case with some of the other experienced stars on Real Madrid, such as Luka Modric, there were concerns surrounding starting right back Dani Carvajal going into the 2019-2020 season. He showed signs of decline in 2018-2019 in what was a poor year for Los Merengues, and he had an inauspicious start to the season.

However, despite some inconsistent moments, including a woeful performance against a substituted Raheem Sterling in the Champions League Round of 16 vs. Manchester City, Carvajal turned in a strong bounce-back season.

Madrid didn’t have another viable option at right back for the entirety of the season. They briefly gave Alvaro Odriozola starts, and he did play well in a 4-2 win over Granada in October. However, later that month, Odriozola had a shocking display in a 1-0 loss to Mallorca, leading to the young right back getting banished on the bench before Zinedine Zidane loaned him to Bayern Munich in the winter.

Odriozola’s loan deal sealed Carvajal as the full-time starting right back. He barely received rest but only got better as the season wore on. His accurate crosses and constant running up and down the flank were instrumental to Real Madrid’s success.

After Rodrygo cooled off and was sent to Castilla, Carvajal was the main threat down the right-hand side. When Isco played on the right, he mostly tucked inside. When Gareth Bale played on the right, Los Blancos were essentially playing with 10 men and relying on Carvajal for service.

Carvajal finished the 2019-2020 season as WhoScored.com’s highest-rated right back in La Liga, with Real Betis’ Emerson being his main source of competition as the league’s best player at the position.

The Spain international struggled defensively at times against quicker wingers, but, by and large, he excelled. Carvajal was second on the team in La Liga with five assists, tying Toni Kroos for second on the team behind striker Karim Benzema. He completed 86.5 percent of his passes, recorded 1.3 interceptions per game, and was second on the team in tackles per game behind only the impervious Casemiro.

It’s easy to underrate Carvajal’s impact, since his aggression and frustrating mistakes stand out more than consistent work. But it’s important to highlight Carvajal’s value to both the defense and the attack, as well as the hard work he puts in to stabilize the entire right side of Real Madrid’s formation.

In many ways, Carvajal is an unsung hero for Real, and even though Achraf Hakimi will be joining the team after a sensational season at Borussia Dortmund, the 28-year-old should still have a key role for Zidane. Hakimi can play at right wing and Carvajal can play at right back, or Hakimi can give Carvajal much-needed rest at right back as a more attacking option to Ferland Mendy on the left.

It all benefits Carvajal, who should be even more effective with actual rest in 2020-2021. This is a player who was in the top five in the team in key passes per game, second in total passes per game, and in the top three in crosses per game last season. Carvajal has plenty to offer, and he showed he’s still among the best right backs in the game last year.