Real Madrid: Analyzing all the right-wing options for the 2021/22 season
Marco Asensio
The Mallorcan made a great start to his Real Madrid career by scoring on his debut in each of LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, Copa Del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and, Supercopa de Espana. Real Madrid love such goalscoring wingers, and they thought Asensio could be one in the future. Zidane went to the extent of saying Asensio’s left foot was the best he had seen since Messi. But Asensio’s career has been highly disappointing since 2018.
He scored 10 and 11 goals in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons respectively, but since then he has failed to hit the 10-goal mark in the next three seasons. It would be harsh to judge his 2019/20 season, a season that was curtailed by an ACL injury, but he looked mediocre in 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons.
Asensio produced only seven goals and two assists in 2020/21, out of which two goals and two assists came from the left, while only five goals came from the right, the position in which he played the most number of minutes. There are several reasons why Asensio has been below-par in the 2020/21 season. But most of it can be attributed to the fact that he isn’t a natural RW, and he doesn’t have the skill-set to excel in that position.
Asensio isn’t that suited for the right-wing in the first place. He is more of an attacking midfielder who likes to be given a free role and create something with his linkup play or crosses from wide areas. He is a left-footed player, but that doesn’t make every left-footed player suitable for the RW position. His 1v1 abilities down the right aren’t that great, and he is forced to make a backpass or cross due to his lack of pace. He isn’t that adventurous in the first place.
Asensio’s 1v1 abilities are a lot better on the left side, where it becomes easier for him to shield the ball with his left foot and beat the defender on his outside, to get into crossing positions. He loves playing as an attacking midfielder or left-winger, but at a club like Real Madrid, you don’t get to choose your position. You have to accept your manager’s decision and make some minor adjustments in your game to adapt to the position and be useful to the team.
Ancelotti loves goalscoring wingers, but above all, he prefers wingers who are quick with both their movement and decision making, like Gareth Bale and Angel Di Maria. Asensio isn’t that quick in either of them, and it is difficult to see him as an LW when the likes of Hazard, Vinicius and possibly Mbappe will be there. The Spaniard has made his intentions clear that he wants to continue here, and it is going to be interesting to see how he’ll be used. He might not get chances as a no.10 due to the presence of a younger and better Martin Odegaard.
The only other position where he might get chances is right-wing. He is 25 now, and he can’t be resting easy citing the fact that it’s not his natural position. He needs to work on his weaknesses and try to adapt to the position. And he also needs to make use of his strengths. He is a great shooter and passer, he should focus more on extracting the best out of his skill-set and get into more scoring positions and create more clear-cut chances with quicker decision making.
Ancelotti has mentioned that he wants to implement a brand of vertical football, and if Asensio wants to become an integral part of that he needs to be quicker and stronger. He is 180 cm tall and he could be a good aerial target, but for that to happen he needs to improve his physique to succeed in duels and work on his heading abilities. This might be his last chance, and it would be better if he understands the gravity of his situation.