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3 Real Madrid players that Carlo Ancelotti can experiment with in different positions

By Ranoveer Neogi

Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 6: Eden Hazard of Real MadridPhoto by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 6: Eden Hazard of Real MadridPhoto by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

EDEN HAZARD- ATTACKING MIDFIELD OR FALSE NINE

There’s an outrage across social media that Eden Hazard has been confined to the bench under Carlo Ancelotti. While the outrage is understandable, there is literally no place for Hazard in the team. If you want a better understanding of the situation, then head over to Kevin Parvizi’s recent article on Eden Hazard.

In reality, Eden Hazard is no longer an actual winger nor can he play in that position often. The major reason is the impact that his injuries have had on him. He’s isn’t as effective in one-on-one situations as he was in the past plus he’s lost a yard of pace too. He does not effectively track the opposite full-back nor does he press all that much. In short, Eden Hazard on the wing for 90 minutes is not a good idea.

Carlo Ancelotti has experimented with Hazard at the start of the season, he played him across the front three as an LW, RW and even on a free role. Ultimately, Ancelotti decided that Hazard’s presence puts more pressure on the backline that outweighs the impact he has on the final third. Which ultimately resulted in Hazard losing his place in the eleven.

However, if there’s one place the Belgian can thrive under then it’s the false nine position. Against Rayo Vallecano, Karim Benzema looked off and rusty, maybe because of all the games he has been playing lately.

The 33-year-old deserves some rest and Ancelotti can rotate the Frenchman with either Luka Jovic or Eden Hazard. In the case of the Belgian, Hazard played some of his best football in the 2018-19 season under Maurizio Sarri as a false nine.

Against Rayo, Hazard did well albeit he played less than ten minutes as a false nine. While the Belgian has lost some speed in his legs, he’s still quite fast with the ball and can beat his marker with a few twists and turns. Eden Hazard can be effective if he gets more chances as a false nine but that won’t be a regular sight as Karim Benzema continues to perform at an exceptional level.

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