Real Madrid's defense had a problem!
Yang Yang walked across the pitch, panting heavily, but he couldn't help having this thought.
Just now, it had once again been Ramos's long pass from the back. Under the opponent's intense pressing, he failed to deliver it accurately. After the ball was intercepted in the defensive midfield, they immediately launched a counterattack, and Griezmann had nearly scored one-on-one.
To be hit like that twice in one match was definitely no coincidence.
The reason for this was simple: Real Madrid's defense had a problem.
Ever since Benitez took charge at Bernabéu in 2009, he had built a rigorous offensive and defensive system tailored to Real Madrid and brought in high-level players to fit it. Since then, Real Madrid's defense had remained solid and stable.
But recently, problems had gradually begun to emerge in the team's defense.
Yang Yang felt that the main reason was still Modrić's injury.
Back in Benitez's era and during Ancelotti's early tenure, Real Madrid had always used a double defensive midfield setup, with Xabi Alonso and Mascherano forming the partnership. This made Real Madrid's back line impregnable.
Although Xabi Alonso had gradually faded from his role at Real Madrid later on, with players such as Modrić taking his place, Real Madrid still had Mascherano, Javi Martínez, and Illarramendi in the defensive midfield position. They even had Casemiro, who was on loan at Porto.
In other words, Real Madrid's squad structure had always included the role of a defensive midfielder.
This season, Mascherano's form had not been ideal because of his age and his participation in the World Cup. Meanwhile, Toni Kroos had quickly established himself after joining as a new signing, and James Rodríguez had arrived for the astronomical fee of eighty million euros. As a result, Ancelotti began trying