Real Madrid put themselves in a major hole in the Champions League, losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich at home in the first leg of the quarterfinals. They were torn to bits in the first half, and while a few key substitutes and a goal from Kylian Mbappe semingly got the club back in it, the reality is that Real were outclassed again by a better team.
Coming off the Mallorca loss, Real Madrid are in trouble, and few players were as disappointing or a responsible for this loss than left back Alvaro Carreras. Signed in the summer to be an upgrade at a significant price, Alvaro is losing grip on his starting job.
Even before the game against Bayern Munich, there were already rumblings of Madrid starting Fran Garcia as part of what is now an open competition at left back. With Ferland Mendy injured, Real Madrid instead decided to stick with Alvaro again.
Alvaro Carreras must improve
After a bad game against Mallorca, Alvaro was even worse on a huge Champions League night. He gifted Bayern a goal and could have easily gifted them more, as he was tormented by superstar Michael Olise to an extent that he not only embarrassed himself, but he also embarrassed the Real Madrid forwards who were put to shame by the actual best Frenchman in world football this season. (Sorry Mbappe, but Olise is a more complete team player, just like Ousmane Dembele.)
Carreras was fed to the wolves, and he may as well have combusted into flames with how badly he was scorched by Olise. In defending Alvaro Arbeloa, all the Real Madrid manager did was highlight how Carreras is nowhere near the level of a world class player.
Arbeloa said of the Real Madrid left back at the press conference after the game, via the Madrid Zone, "Alvaro Carreras is a fantastic player, one of the best full-backs in the world. I fully trust him, and he'll learn from this. It's not easy to face a talented, fast player like Olise."
Look, the kind words are great and the words of trust are reassuring, but Real Madrid are in the business of winning games. And after Fran Garcia played well against Manchester City and with Mendy proving himself against the elite wingers in the Champions League over the years, Alvaro's grip is so tenuous now. He can add to the attack with creativity and progression, but his sloppiness in his own half, his poor marking, and his shoddy one on one defending against top players is making him a doubt.
Arbeloa's silver tongue is laced wtih poison. While he praises all players and backs them, the fact that he is referencing this embarrassment to the world is a tacit sign every motivated player and every astute fan can read behind. Alvaro is backed, but he MUST improve.