Real Madrid fans are getting increasingly concerned about the team’s right back situation. Dani Carvajal was poor against Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League – that is one problem. But his performance against Barcelona in LaLiga has convinced many Madridistas that the former best right back in the world is now finished as a top-level starter.
His only backup, Lucas Vazquez, isn’t a right back, though, at times, he is serviceable, even without Zinedine Zidane to come up with a gameplan that protects him.
The right back situation is having a ripple effect on the rest of the squad. Here are three players who are suffering the most as a result of the inconsistent play at this position.
CB Eder Militao
Let’s begin with the man who plays directly next to Dani Carvajal. I have never seen Eder Militao more frustrated than when Real Madrid faced Barcelona in that embarrassing Clasico. Militao was all over the place – and this time, not in a good way.
He looked flustered and upset, having to cover so much for different runs over the top and with Carvajal badly exposed next to him. Carvajal was less than useless. He would lose track of players, pass them off to Militao at the last second, and could not keep up with even Ferran Torres’ speed. Militao was forced to do a million things at once, which then had a negative impact on his usually sublime center back partner, David Alaba.
Seriously, Real Madrid are putting way too much on Militao’s plate if they expect him to cover for these messes at right back in 2022/23 as well. He is a great center back already, but not even he can make up for the defensive deficiencies at right back game after game.