Here’s how Real Madrid can improve the production from their wingers

1. By using the wingers to their strengths

The managers apply a basic principle when a player is unable to adapt to a certain system or if he can’t bring the best out of that particular player in a particular role. They will try to use that player to their strengths and make them feel that they’re in their comfort zone. This might be helpful for the player, as they know how to play in a role they are familiar with and helps them play their natural game.

Using a player to his strength doesn’t mean an overall change in a system, it might just be a minor tactical tweak in terms of positioning, responsibilities given to the player etc. Sometimes it does demand a change in a system, but not every time. There are some ways in which Don Carlo can bring the best out of every individual.

Vinicius Jr: Let us take the example of Vinicius first. Vinicius’ main strengths are his pace and dribbling. He isn’t a tight space dribbler like Brahim Diaz or Takefusa Kubo, players with a low centre of gravity and a good first touch who can burst through tight spaces with ease. His dribbling is more suited for counter-attacking football, where there is greater scope for him to use his pace.

Given Vinicius’ profile, it would be tough to see him succeed in a slow-paced possession-based system against the low-blocks deployed by the teams of LaLiga. Passing isn’t particularly his strength, and he isn’t a great player with his back facing the goal. But he can definitely create some danger and get into more 1v1 situations when used in a counter-attacking setup, where he will be often released past the defensive line of the opposition, and wouldn’t be forced to collect the ball wide on the left wing with 10 men waiting in the box to block his path. It is a different matter if he can finish the goal or not, but with him being used to his strengths, he will definitely see more chances which increase the probability of a goal as well. If we all are lucky, he might finish as he did against Alisson Becker.

Marco Asensio: Coming to Asensio, he has been heavily used as a right-winger. But he is actually a player who feels comfortable behind a striker or can do well as a left-winger too. When deployed as a classic winger on the left, he will definitely attempt more crosses and cutbacks, which increases the probability of him getting an assist, but given the competition for the left wing, he might not get a chance there.

But Asensio can definitely be used as a second striker or an attacking midfielder, or even as a false-nine. His passing is great, his ability to operate in tight spaces and with his back facing the goal is fine. And his main strength would be his shooting from range when given some space, and we will get to see him attempt more shots if we see him play through the middle. It’s difficult to predict if he can score more from the middle, but the overall output may increase and he can play better, with greater comfort and confidence.

Rodrygo: Compared to the names above, Rodrygo has shown greater promise in ensuring an end product. He scored just 2 goals but excelled in the creative side, registering six assists in LaLiga. Considering his injuries and the minutes he played, these numbers are decent, but he can be even better when used to his strength, given his maturity and skill-set.

Rodrygo is a natural left-winger, though he has the ability to play on the right as well. But the best of Rodrygo can be seen from the left, as it was visible in Santos. Even against Eibar in December 2020, Rodrygo was great from the left, getting into goalscoring positions and assisting Benzema with a superb chipped pass. From the right-wing Rodrygo is limited to wide areas, with crosses, combinational plays, and cutbacks becoming his only tools. He can’t get many shooting opportunities from the right, and even the limited opportunities might be from a tight angle.

If played on the left wing and given some freedom, Rodrygo can definitely be better and can score more. Considering the competition and possible arrival of Mbappe, that chance will be hard to come by, but he can work wonders if given a chance.

These are just theories based on what we’ve seen of them so far. And everything I’ve mentioned above can’t be implemented by Carlo Ancelotti at the same time. He could implement that sporadically, or even more regularly if he thinks that chance will be worth it. Managers wouldn’t hesitate to make big changes to the systems for players like Cristiano and Messi, but it is interesting to see for whom Ancelotti might make that change. Reports do suggest that Ancelotti wants to make Rodrygo a key player, and he spoke about how Vinicius should score more in his first press conference as Real Madrid’s manager.