Three last hopes for a Marcelo turnaround at Real Madrid

1. As LCM in a creative midfielder role in 4-3-3

The success of 4-3-3 rests on the quality of the three midfielders and the effectiveness of forwards. Out of the three types of players in central midfield, namely the ‘destroyer’, the ‘controller’, and the ‘creator’, Marcelo can fittingly acquire the ‘creator’ position. He can occasionally shift to an attacking midfielder role against low block teams and can be really effective in providing a spark with his superb link-up play with forwards. He is also capable of producing highly accurate crosses, which can create goals out of nowhere. His performance against Getafe in February further gives testament to his attacking abilities. Additionally, the obligation of tracking back, which is Marcelo’s weakness, is reduced to a good extent.

The addition of Marcelo in this formation also provides vital flexibility and fluidity. He can easily switch positions with left-back and even the left-winger during the game. This adds an element of unpredictability to the attack and can create trouble for the opposition. Furthermore, whenever the team has a lead to defend and wants to see out the rest of the game without taking too much risk, Marcelo can slot into the left side of a five-man defense.

All-in-all playing Marcelo in midfield can turn out to be a win-win situation for both the team and the player himself.