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

2. Tactical changes and demanding greater off the ball movement from wingers

Under Zidane, Madridistas were used to slow possession-based buildups that would often end with crosses from wide areas. When Cristiano and Bale were present in the box with Benzema occupying clever positions, the probability of that cross being buried was high. But now, Benzema is the only aerial target present in the box, which does decrease the effectiveness of the crossing tactic.

Wingers like Hazard, Vinicius and Rodrygo aren’t that tall to be aerial targets in the box, while Asensio is 180 cm tall but doesn’t get into those positions. This definitely calls for two things, a change in approach and an improvement in the off-the-ball movement of wingers.

With a change in management, we can definitely expect a change of approach. Carlo Ancelotti is known for setting up an attacking system in which players are expected to be vertical and quick in transitions and minimize horizontal passes. It does sound exciting, but it is be seen how successfully Don Carlo can implement his philosophy against the low-blocks of LaLiga, where teams find defending for their lives preferable to attacking and provide spaces to opponents. If Ancelotti is able to implement the above tactics, then he can definitely expect to see better production from the wings.

But there are few more changes that can be helpful for the team, as counter-attacking football cant be implemented against every team in LaLiga. The first tactic is to decrease the number of crosses and focus more on quick cutbacks. Of course, crossing when needed is important, but hit and hope crosses should be avoided by the players. And given the profiles of the current wingers, quick cutbacks can be dangerous if the wingers get into those positions.

Cutbacks wouldn’t be possible from the corner-flag zone, and teams can easily block them. For them, there is a need to make sure the low block of the opponents is narrowed by the team’s setup. This can be possible by operating more from Zone-14, the area outside the D, which would become easier if players like Martin Odegaard start more. If this is possible, players like Marcelo, Dani Carvajal, and Lucas Vazquez will have a feast from the flanks. But this should be supported with proper off-the-ball movement from wingers. A Karim Benzema surrounded by four defenders can’t score every time.

If anyone observes the heatmaps of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, it is easy to realise that both of them occupy wide areas most of the time. They start from the wide, but most of the time they play as advanced fullbacks in the buildup phases. They need to get into the box more frequently and occupy halfspaces. And they would have to avoid being stationary in the box, it is important to stay on their feet and be ready to move like a fox in the box to create space for themselves and confuse their markers. With intelligent positioning, they can be the recipients of a cutback or a low cross.

Even if they are occupying the wide positions, that will be useful in one way as that would stretch the opposition defence, which creates little pockets of space. They can be useful, but if they aren’t exploited by a winger, we can’t expect a goal.

I often see people talk about how we don’t attempt a lot of through balls, given our midfield quality. It is an interesting topic, but what we don’t see here is that through balls need recipients on the other end who make the necessary movement to be released by the midfielder. With better off-the-ball movement from forwards, midfielders will have many options, and their life will be made any easier.