Ever since the unexpected departure of the renowned centre-back pairing of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the same transfer window, Real Madrid has wisely devoted both intellect and money to bolstering the positions.
Eder Militao, who was constantly chastised prior to the duo’s departure, has stepped up tremendously. The addition of David Alaba has also proven extremely successful, as seen by the fans’ unending admiration for the versatile player.
Now, in another significant defensive line reinforcement move, Antonio Rudiger has been signed from Chelsea, making the back four even more robust with plenty of choices currently on the roster.
As of now, various names might be permuted and united to make a good back four, including Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho Fernandez, Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy, as well as several more from Castilla and others awaiting registration returning from loan.
In this article, I shall focus on running a combination to build the best possible and strongest back four for Real Madrid that I believe is attainable. This is not to say that Real Madrid must go with the combination I propose because the requirements of players based on their ability alter with different game situations, but on an overall basis, I believe that this back four should be the strongest that can be expressed.
Left Back – David Alaba
David Alaba would be the best choice for the left wing-back position to start with. The versatile player is also at ease at left-back, where he can provide the ideal balance of primary defensive duties and secondary offensive assistance, something that Real Madrid’s wing-backs are in great demand for.
Without a doubt, Ferland Mendy, who now holds the position on the squad, is a fantastic ball defender, but sadly, it is pretty much the only area in which he excels. The Frenchman has suffered with dribbles and teaming up with his attacking counterparts, adding little to the team’s attacking actions.
Our Austrian pick, on the other hand, beats out Mendy in the same bracket. Alaba demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm and responsibility to charge forward as the team’s main centre-back last season and excelled in doing so, and if anything, shifting him to the wing would only give him more leeway to do so and offer far more to the attack than Mendy does.
Centre back – Antonio Rudiger
Now that Alaba has been switched to left back, there is a vacancy for the ideal candidate for the position.
Antonio Rudiger, who was previously barred from making an impression under Lampard, ascended to become a significant and fundamental component of Thomas Tuchel’s impermeable defensive line, which also played a key role in their Champions League success.
It would be absurd to bring in a player of this calibre and expertise and not make him a starter. Is this to imply that I am promoting Rudiger to the starting XI just because he was signed? Absolutely not. The German has proven time after time why he stays fit as the club’s main centre-back, and his statistics only add to the argument by stressing the qualities for which he was recruited in the first place.
The most interesting aspect of using Rudiger in this position is how well he would be able to deal with gaps when the player transitions from a three-man Chelsea defence to a four-man defence. The German ace understands how to control the centre while still keeping an eye on the wing.
Centre back – Eder Militao
Eder Militao’s breakthrough at Real Madrid came late, but it arrived just when it was required. The Brazilian has worked tirelessly to fill the shoes of his predecessors at the club, and it is reasonable to state that the scratches that were expected to be painful have been nicely healed by Militao.
It’s been a full season since the 24-year-old has been an unquestioned starter at Real Madrid, and little can be said to displace him as the new season approaches. There may have been certain pitfalls that the player did not address, but they do not, in my opinion, justify sidelining him to the bench.
But, again, this does not imply that Militao is a sure bet because no one is. And in this scenario, Rudiger might offer him some competition, and bringing Alaba back to the duo and starting Mendy would not be too expensive. Militao faces competition and chance, just like every other player vying for a spot in the starting back four.
Militao and Rudiger’s pairing is something to look forward to. A strong, impenetrable, and frightening defence may be formed by two aggressive defenders, but this also entails an endless risk of fouls that could result in rotations being called.
Right back – Dani Carvajal
Is even that a question? It’s got to be him; it’s always been him. Dani Carvajal has accomplished so much at Real Madrid’s right back over the years that his name has become synonymous with the position.
Carvajal had a good season last year, as he does practically every year. He had his own graph of ups and downs, but as the saying goes, “All’s well that ends well.” The player had a bunch of poor games, particularly in the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, but what followed until the last game of the campaign was simply phenomenal. The resurgence, like his entire career, is just extremely underappreciated.
Because there is no credible backup, Carvajal’s position becomes even more secure. Lucas Vazquez, who is not even a natural full-back, has been called back multiple times as a result of Carvajal’s concerning injury record, but there is no one else to compete for the spot.
Conclusive remarks
In my opinion, the backline of Alaba-Rudiger-Militao-Carvajal is the most sturdy, but I cannot emphasise how frequently we will see the combination together. It is more likely that every player will be shuffled and benched at some point during the next season for a variety of unforeseeable reasons.
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For the time being, no other combination in my knowledge appears to be as strong as this one.