When Cristiano Ronaldo departed Real Madrid in 2018, their defensive side got heavily exposed. Earlier they would manage to win a game even after conceding 2 goals because they would simply outscore the opposition. But things have changed considerably since 2018. Real Madrid no longer has a plethora of quality attackers they used to have, and the scoring chart is gravely lopsided, with just Karim Benzema coming up with an ample amount of goals.
This issue brought with it the uncovering of defensive weakness, which had been present even before, but became the center stage of the chaos as Real Madrid suffered a torrid 2018/19 season. The player who came into the spotlight the most was Marcelo. The marauding Brazilian left-back had always been a defensive liability, but plentiful attacking contribution often saved him from criticism.
Marcelo’s downfall started in the 2018/19 season when Santiago Solari preferred to start Sergio Reguilón over him. The situation worsened when Real Madrid signed Ferland Mendy in 2019. That was a clear indication that the club no longer believed in him as a starter, and Mendy turned out to be an excellent defensive addition to the team.
But the situation has changed substantially now that Ancelotti has returned at the helm. The Italian is a huge fan of Marcelo, justified by his use of him in his first spell. In the 2014/15 season, Marcelo played 53 games, the most games in a single season he has ever played.
Here are three possible positions and systems in which the new club captain can thrive and revive under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti.