Real Madrid: Biggest keys to dethroning Atlético Madrid in La Liga

Rotations

Regular rotation of players is vital for building a side capable of winning trophies. One need not look far to see what lack of rotation does to a team. We could see the effects of overload during the last campaign’s business end. Players like Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, and Mendy were worn out and couldn’t deliver in crucial moments.

Overworking some players has two prime consequences. Firstly, these players have a higher risk of getting injured due to fatigue. Secondly, the development of players who are left out gets stalled.

The crucial task for Carlo Ancelotti is to manage the playing time of his players fittingly. Kroos, Modric, Benzema, and Bale are all in the latter stages of their careers and will require proper management to remain fit. Injury-prone players like Hazard, Bale, and Carvajal also demand separate conduct. Additionally, there are some players like Asensio who are more effective as substitutes. The manager needs to look at all these factors while planning for the next season.

Defensive Stability

It has been a difficult transfer window for the club. That is because the team had to lose the most successful centre-back duo the club has ever seen. Ramos and Varane’s departure creates a big problem in the central defense. There is a widespread belief that these exits can be even more impactful than Ronaldo’s.

Although the club has acquired David Alaba, he is not at the same level playing at CB. Moreover, Real Madrid has denied the possibility of signing another CB during this window. That is a big blow for a team that relied on defensive solidity for the past few seasons.

Getting the center-back issue resolved is one of the most difficult tasks for Ancelotti. The stability of the defense is key to success in La Liga as well as the Champions League. Ancelotti has to make sure to reduce the impact of Ramos and Varane’s departure as much as possible.