Real Madrid's midfield is suffering more in these last few years than it has in decades.
Before this span of time, Real Madrid had a golden generation of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric bossing around any midfield on planet Earth, and it all worked like clockwork, especially when Casemiro used to play as a defensive anchor behind them.
However, the midfield has quickly lost its charm, finesse and quality since Modric left and Kroos retired, and now, Real Madrid are left with a few great individuals in a bad system.
Fede Valverde used to be great, but has not shown that level this season. Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler have been impressive for Real Madrid, but they play in advanced positions on the pitch.
Jose Mourinho needs to bench one of Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni
For the team, the big problem right now is the base of the midfield. The double pivot that Jose Mourinho uses at Real Madrid just does not seem to work, and he is not understanding it.
Bernardo Silva was playing most of Real Madrid's games alongside Valverde at the start of the season in midfield, and everything looked good. Not perfect, not even great, but good - definitely better than last season.
However, as soon as Tchouameni returned to full fitness, Silva's spot in the team went away. Immediately. Silva was Real Madrid's best deep midfielder so far this season, and presumably because of squad heirarchy and the contract given to Tchouameni earlier this summer, the Frenchman has taken Silva's place in the squad.
Against Atletico Madrid, this pairing looked awful - not just with the ball, but also without it. It was embarrassing to watch at times, and as soon as Bernardo Silva entered the pitch, you could feel the difference, even when he did the absolute bare minimum things.
It has not looked good so far. Real Madrid fans have seen two years of Valverde and Tchouameni together in a midfield to know that this dynamic is just not going to work. Their defensive ability is good, but on the ball, both of them are somewhat limited, and do not possess the passing range or the ability to sift through defenses with a body feint or a shoulder drop.
They can keep the ball, but it seems like many times, they prefer not to. Real Madrid are currently in that problem where they need players who demand the ball, and these two are just not there in that regard.
Real Madrid fans have seen this duo not work together for so long, and it is infuriating to then see a manager, who was supposed to bring change with him, play the same midfield that has proven to be a failure for the last couple of years.
Real Madrid need someone like Silva in the starting XI at all times, and if it is not going to be him, the club must find a player like him. If it will be the Portuguese midfielder, get Tchouameni out of the lineup.
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