The Italian Coach Is Considering Excluding One of the Main Stars of the Team and Putting Him on the Bench, But He Does Not Dare Make the Difficult Decision

Real Madrid is entering the most crucial phase of the season, with tough challenges ahead in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. Every tactical decision made by Carlo Ancelotti will be scrutinized as the team battles against elite opposition. However, the Italian coach is facing a major dilemma—his preferred attacking system is not providing the required balance, yet he is reluctant to bench any of his key stars.

Ancelotti has relied heavily on the 4-3-3 formation, with Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham forming the core of his attacking setup. While this system allows all of Madrid’s biggest stars to play together, it has led to serious issues in midfield control. The team often struggles to maintain possession, which weakens their defensive structure and exposes them against high-level opponents.

According to reports from the Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, Ancelotti is considering a tactical shift to the 4-4-2 formation. This adjustment would provide greater defensive stability, allowing the midfield to have more control. However, this change comes with a significant trade-off—one of Madrid’s attacking stars would have to be dropped to the bench.

The biggest obstacle for Ancelotti is deciding who to leave out. Rodrygo’s recent performances have been nothing short of spectacular, making him a difficult player to sacrifice. At the same time, Vinícius, Mbappé, and Bellingham are all undroppable in the Italian coach’s eyes, creating a tactical headache that he has yet to solve.

As the season progresses, Madrid’s defensive weaknesses have become more apparent. The backline has struggled in multiple matches, especially when facing high-intensity pressing teams. The defensive gaps have been particularly noticeable against top-tier opponents, and with upcoming fixtures against Atlético Madrid and Manchester City, these issues must be addressed immediately.

One possible solution is to deploy Federico Valverde as a makeshift right-back in major matches. Valverde’s pace, physicality, and defensive awareness could provide additional cover in wide areas, helping Madrid cope with the fast wingers of their toughest rivals. However, this adjustment would mean sacrificing his influence in midfield, where his box-to-box energy is invaluable.

Ancelotti has yet to make a final decision on his tactical system moving forward. The early months of 2025 saw Rodrygo explode into form, forcing the coach to rethink his strategies. At the beginning of the season, a 4-4-2 shift seemed like the logical choice, but Rodrygo’s brilliance has complicated matters, making it almost impossible to leave him out of the starting lineup.

Dropping Rodrygo for the sake of balance would be a controversial decision, especially given his ability to score crucial goals and create chances. His chemistry with Vinícius and Mbappé has improved significantly, making the attacking trio a lethal combination when given space to operate.

As a result, Ancelotti appears to be leaning toward keeping the 4-3-3 system intact, despite its defensive flaws. The challenge, however, will be ensuring that Vinícius and Mbappé contribute more defensively, especially in high-stakes matches where Madrid cannot afford to be overrun in midfield. Convincing these two superstars to track back and provide defensive support will be no easy task.

Throughout Real Madrid’s history, collective commitment has been one of the club’s defining traits. The current squad must embrace that same mentality if they want to compete for every trophy this season. Individual brilliance alone will not be enough; teamwork and tactical discipline will be essential to overcoming the challenges ahead.

If all of Madrid’s attacking stars are willing to adapt and contribute defensively, Ancelotti can persist with his attacking philosophy while still maintaining some level of balance. However, if the team continues to suffer from defensive lapses, he may have no choice but to make a bold decision and sacrifice one of his attacking stars.

The coming weeks will be a defining period for Madrid’s season. With their league campaign still wide open, a Copa del Rey title within reach, and the Champions League knockout rounds approaching, every tactical decision will carry immense weight. Ancelotti must strike the perfect balance between attack and defense to ensure his team remains competitive on all fronts.

There is no doubt that Madrid has the individual talent to win multiple trophies. However, raw talent must be complemented by tactical discipline. If Madrid’s stars fail to adapt, they risk being outplayed by more well-balanced teams, especially in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Ultimately, Ancelotti’s final decision will shape Madrid’s destiny this season. Will he stick with an attacking approach that could leave the team vulnerable, or will he make the difficult choice of benching one of his stars for the sake of balance? The answer will be revealed in the coming weeks, as Madrid faces its toughest challenges yet.