The 2021/22 season has been nothing short of a miracle for Real Madrid. No one could’ve predicted this turn of events at the start of the season. The club lost what was arguably the greatest center-back pairing in the world, only to end up in the Champions League final and being crowned La Liga champions. No club in the world could replicate what Los Blancos did this season. With enigmatic grit and resilience, Real Madrid pulled off yet another unexplainable run to the Champions League final.
Regardless, the crumbling down of the Mbappe saga has taken the spotlight off the final, which should be the sole topic of discussion among Madridistas. It’s also unfair to the players, who paved the way for what could be the most remarkable Champions League campaign in the history of the competition.
Carlo Ancelotti, otherwise known for his tranquil personality would surely be on pins and needles right now. He’s a man with a lot of thinking up his sleeve. Here are some burning questions for Carlo that need addressing ahead of the season’s biggest game.
How can Real Madrid escape the Liverpool press?
Probably the biggest question out of the bunch. Finding an answer to Liverpool’s press and counter-press would be a massive challenge for Carlo Ancelotti. Liverpool is the last team you’d want to face because it is unquestionably the best counter-pressing team in the world. In his years as a Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has built a pressing model that is sustained, and its effectiveness has grown season after season.
Last year’s quarter-final tie against Liverpool could’ve gone in a completely different direction if Liverpool had their starting center-backs available. Liverpool, in the second leg, found a way to padlock Kroos, Casemiro, and Modric. The final will be a battle of the midfield, and Thiago’s possible absence gives Real Madrid a massive edge.
Luckily, Real Madrid has two of the best press-resistant midfielders in the world in Kroos and Modric. Kroos, along with Marco Veratti were the only two players this season to maintain above a 90% pass completion when under pressure from an opponent. I won’t rule us out just yet.
Should Rodrygo and Camavinga start for Real Madrid in the final?
A pivotal reason for Real Madrid being where they are this season is the fact that every single player in the squad has stepped up. The non-starters know what it means to represent the Real Madrid crest. Rodrygo and Camavinga, with their consistent performances, have moulded a solid argument to have a place in the starting eleven.
If it wasn’t for them, there wouldn’t have been a place for Real Madrid in the final. Rodrygo escaped Real Madrid from a humiliating Chelsea comeback, pulling one back in the dying minutes and taking the game to extra-time. And of course, his two goals against Manchester City which led to one of the greatest Real Madrid comebacks of all time.
Camavinga too, changed the game every time he stepped on the pitch. The comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and City started off when he was brought on. It’s not a coincidence. In total, Camavinga played 125 minutes across the three Champions League comebacks. With him on the pitch, Real Madrid scored eight goals which led them to the final and conceded just one.
They’d probably start in any other team in the world, but it’s Real Madrid we’re talking about. We’ve seen Rodrygo and Camavinga coming off the bench and as starters this season. It’s safe to conclude that they’ve been more effective off the bench. Against Liverpool, perhaps the most physical side in the world, we’re going to need players who can capitalize on the tired legs. They are those players.
How would Real Madrid contain Luis Diaz?
I didn’t want to have an entire question centred around one player, but Luis Diaz makes it imperative to have one. He is, without a doubt the best January signing of the season. In such a short span of time, he has constructed himself as one of the best wingers in the world.
Those who watch Primeira Liga would know how intriguing of a prospect he was in his Porto days. Diaz is just another testament to Liverpool’s extraordinary scouting policy over the past decade. He had everything in his bag besides goals, and he’s added those to his resume this season.
Before his transfer to Liverpool, he scored 14 goals and provided four assists in just 18 matches played in Primeira Liga. These numbers are astronomical. For Liverpool, he accounts for four goals and three assists in 11 starts. These numbers for someone who has never had a taste of English football are not bad at all.
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Dani Carvajal has considerably improved since the 2nd leg against Chelsea, both offensively and defensively. Regardless, He and Carlo have got themselves a huge task up ahead.