No one can doubt Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti's knack for winning titles and finding creative solutions to problems.
Real Madrid won La Liga and Champions League in a dominant fashion without even having a single striker in their starting XI for most of their games last season. Before that, there were talks about Ancelotti stagnating as a coach, but he reminded everyone that he is still the seasoned veteran when it comes to football coaching.
However, there is one thing that Ancelotti gets the blame for more often than not, and even as the years have gone by, he has not changed it one bit.
Carlo Ancelotti should pick players by merit in Real Madrid's biggest games
Real Madrid fans around the world have been a little concerned about the team selections after most games. Lucas Vazquez - who tries hard and deserves some credit for it - simply has not been able to cut it for Real Madrid this season, and yet, Ancelotti has continued to show faith in the Spaniard time and time again.
Although it is a tactic that not many people agree with, it has undoubtedly worked for many players before. For example, Ancelotti's confidence in Rodrygo helped the Brazilian steer through a period of struggle and start scoring goals for fun. It can be a bane or a boon depending on the player he is trying to show confidence in.
However, it may backfire if Ancelotti continues to field players like David Alaba and Vazquez in big games just because he trusts them more and wants them to prove their worth. Alaba and Vazquez are talented players, without a shadow of a doubt. But, whether it is physical limitations or tactical limitations, Real Madrid cannot field them in big games.
Fede Valverde was a revelation at right-back when he played against Manchester City, and it is feared that Ancelotti will start Vazquez as the right-back if both of them are fully fit in their next big game. That is the same with Alaba and Raul Asencio. It simply should not happen. It is understandable to show confidence to players who are struggling, and it may not matter in an easily winnable league match, but the team should be put first in situations like this.
Players should be chosen by a mixture of merit and confidence in this situation, and right now, Asencio and Valverde should absolutely be starting as center-back and right-back respectively in any big game. It would be foolish to think otherwise.