Real Madrid may have put together the single worst performance in the history of El Clasico on Sunday night, losing to their storied rivals 4-0 in a match that could have easily ended 8-0 in Barcelona’s favor. Carlo Ancelotti’s gameplan has been roundly panned by tactical analysts and fans alike, and Real are reeling heading into the “international break” with all eyes on their date with Thomas Tuchel in the Champions League.
Madridistas have plenty to discuss following such a shameful defeat to their biggest rivals. Here are five moves that Real Madrid clearly must make both in the short-term and in the coming summer transfer window, as a response to El Clasico.
Carlo Ancelotti has to go this summer
My colleague William Beach spoke at length about why Carlo Ancelotti must go, but I would like to reiterate this point with my own analysis. Carlo was brought in this summer as the safest option – a stopgap for Real before a big summer 2022 window. His task was to get the most out of the young players and to find some sort of a role for the outcasts, either to revive their Madrid careers or boost their transfer values.
Aside from Vinicius Jr.’s explosion, which happened so early in the season that it probably was not the result of Carlo’s coaching anyway, he has failed in every respect. Luka Jovic, Eden Hazard, Dani Ceballos, Isco, and Gareth Bale remain unused. Prospects like Miguel Gutierrez, Sergio Arribas, and Antonio Blanco who showed great promise in 2020/21 are totally unused. Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde have been tremendous but underutilized. Whereas Vini has exploded, Rodrygo Goes has taken a clear step back under Ancelotti.
His tactical decision-making is comically bad. There is no structure, and against any top manager, Ancelotti is outclassed. He was carried by his top players in several big games this season, most notably against PSG in the Champions League second leg.
There is no point in firing Ancelotti now. And he is not all bad. He is a classy man who can navigate the politics of Madrid adeptly. However, he is not a top-level manager in the modern game. If there were any hopes of that, Xavi killed them once and for all in a humiliation for the ages.
Real Madrid need to replace Dani Carvajal, not Lucas Vazquez
Lucas Vazquez is not a right back. Even though he played this position at a very high level for one period in the 2020/21 season under Zinedine Zidane, we know he is not a solution there. He is, however, a very good utility backup who can fulfill multiple roles on the right side of the formation.
Real Madrid’s right back of choice is supposed to be Dani Carvajal, but he is heading into Carlo Ancelotti territory. What do I mean by that? Well, he is someone we admire and respect, and he has given even more to this club than Ancelotti. Yet at the very highest level, he is finished as a starter. He cannot be the main man for Madrid at right back, because it is one thing to get roasted by Kylian Mbappe. It is another to get wiped off the pitch by Ferran Torres. While Torres is a great player in his own right, Carvajal is supposed to also be a great player – and a more experienced one.
Carvajal’s experience still serves him well, and he is not useless to Real Madrid. But he is too injury-prone, too inconsistent, and too slow for Madrid to rely on. He used to be the best big-game right back no matter what, but Madridistas cannot even say that about Carvajal anymore.
It is time for Real Madrid to move on and sign a starting-caliber right back. Bringing back Alvaro Odriozola from Fiorentina is insufficient. Real need to sign a right back who is good enough to start for a Champions League winner. Anything below that standard is malpractice, especially with Kylian Mbappe on his way. Mbappe expects more.
Aurelien Tchouameni must be secured
Casemiro has been, overall, a good starter for Real Madrid this season, even brilliant at times. But the KCM era is coming to an end, and as much as Carlo Ancelotti has run these three into the ground in 2021/22, the club’s management knows that now is the time to prepare for the future.
In Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid quite clearly have their two wide midfielders of the future. They have already been matchwinners in big games, including against the likes of Inter Milan and PSG in the Champions League.
But who replaces Casemiro? Defensive midfielders who can anchor and play great defense are hard to find, and Real need to find someone who can provide the same defensive cover Case does in the 6 role. Not easy, right?
It’s a damn good thing they have been tracking the ideal option for years, Aurelien Tchouameni. Everyone talks about Declan Rice, Bernardo Silva, Nicolo Barella, and other big names, but Tchouameni can be as good as those guys – if not better – at a rarer position. Tchouameni is a slam dunk, and the 22-year-old’s stock just keeps on rising. After Monaco’s 3-0 win over PSG, the Frenchman’s stock may be at an all-time high.
Right back is a more pressing need than midfield, but it is becoming clear that more dynamism and all-around play in midfield is needed for the next era. Tchouameni can do things no other defensive midfielder – not even Casemiro, who has serious ball security issues – can.
Real Madrid must invest in attacking depth, not Erling Haaland
There are rumblings that Real Madrid are going to push even harder for Erling Haaland as a response to El Clasico, but I am not buying it. Even before Real were embarrassed by Barcelona, who were once players in the Haaland transfer battle, the club was pessimistic about signing the Norwegian over Manchester City. And if you ask me, I think Real can kiss their chances goodbye after El Clasico. Why would he pick Real’s sporting project over City’s now?
Maybe it is all for the better. Real Madrid can use those 350 million euros to invest in the attacking depth that they very clearly don’t have. Although I am critical of Ancelotti’s unwillingness to get more out of Luka Jovic, Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, Isco, and the rest of the backup attacking players – because, you know, he was hired to do this – I am also understanding of the fact that these forwards really aren’t good enough for a club with Madrid’s aspirations. Just look at who Bayern Munich and City have at their disposal to compare.
Amine Gouiri and Raul de Tomas are dream transfer targets who can play significant minutes to ease the load on Karim Benzema and play at a high level in the spot Jovic occupies. They are better fits for Real Madrid and more consistent than Jovic.
On the right wing, Real clearly need an upgrade. Marco Asensio is not good enough. Nobody can think he is good enough after seeing how he embarrassed himself and held back the team badly against PSG. Ancelotti’s faith in him is maddening, and he must be upgraded. Rodrygo Goes is not a real right winger; Real, in their scheme, need a left-footer who can dribble, create, and score a little bit. I get that the forwards will be filled in the XI with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Benzema as the trio, but they need a left-footed backup to replace Bale and Asensio. Takefusa Kubo isn’t ready yet. The likes of Antony and Raphinha, for example, are worth looking into, especially Antony.
Real Madrid need better options for their push to win it all. Depth is so important with the condensed schedule now, and having quality rotational pieces can encourage the starters resting and make the difference between an early exit and a Champions League title. Remember how poorly Real played in 2020/21 against Chelsea due to all of their injuries?
The future is now for Fede Valverde
I love Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro for everything they have done and continue to do for the club. They still form the best midfield trio in the world. But they cannot form the best midfield trio in their world if they have to start each and every single week of the calendar. They will combust. And they cannot start together against certain opponents if the scheme calls for heavy pressing or certain things that do not fit the strengths of Lukita and Toni, in particular.
Fede Valverde can do it all. He is the most well-rounded midfielder I can think of right now, in terms of his energy, ability to defend, ability to cover ground, ball-carrying, ball-progression, transition defending and attacking, and knack for creating his own shot and a shot for others when rapidly on the move. In the outfield, he was the lone bright spot for Real Madrid, and this was after he changed Real’s fortunes against PSG in the second leg.
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He should be starting most weeks, resting either Modric or Kroos in the XI. Valverde is ready. When it comes to the skill-set he offers, his consistency, and the importance of his development to the future of this club, Valverde may very well be the best option to start. Real Madrid must value both the future and the way he eases pressure off the other players. He can become the best in the world. Even Ancelotti knows this. So please, give him the keys.