Real Madrid: Ferland Mendy at right back is an experiment to watch

Ferland Mendy made a surprise appearance for Real Madrid vs. Eibar.

Although Ferland Mendy has become Real Madrid’s first-choice left back since joining the team last summer from Lyon, he made an appearance on the opposite flank for the first time with Los Blancos.

Dani Carvajal suffered an apparent knock at half-time, and since Real don’t have any other right backs, they needed to turn to their other defenders for an option. What’s especially interesting about Real’s current situation is that their actual backup right back is a forward in Lucas Vazquez, but he is currently injured.

Eder Militao was the last player to fill in for Carvajal when the latter was suspended, but Militao struggled at the position against a tough matchup, with Madrid falling to Real Betis before La Liga was suspended.

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So Zinedine Zidane turned to a left back to fill the void. And since Marcelo earned the start in the first game back, scoring in the process, Ferland Mendy got the nod.

Mendy, as expected, didn’t look entirely comfortable in his first start at the new position. The 50 million euro signing played OK under the circumstances and didn’t face much pressure, but he would often have to cross or pass with his weaker foot, leading to a missed opportunity when Karim Benzema was free at the back post.

But there’s optimism that Mendy can be an emergency option at right back if Nacho Fernandez, Vazquez, and Carvajal all have to miss time at a certain point.

For starters, Mendy is a quick study. When he first arrived at Real Madrid, he didn’t contribute much to the attack and often looked uncomfortable progressing the ball or making incisive passes.

By March, Mendy was a real asset in the attacking third. Per WhoScored.com, he was completing nearly two dribbles per game. Mendy’s shots were getting more accurate, and he even provided the winning assist for Benzema in the most recent “El Derbi” against Atletico Madrid.

Mendy surprised fans by playing significant second-half minutes for the injured Carvajal against Eibar, but it may not be the last we see of the 25-year-old rising star at the right back position. And if he gets a couple of more appearances there, he could get into a rhythm and play serviceable football.

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That said, Mendy is a left back through and through and an excellent one at that. He and Alphonso Davies have been two impressive breakout stars at the position this season for top European clubs, and it’s easy to overlook how good Mendy’s defense is. Those same defensive qualities matter on either side of the pitch, which is likely the logic Zidane has in his mind.

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