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As a result of the injury sustained by Jude Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti was able to make some adjustments to his midfield lineup in preparation for the match against Real Valladolid that took place last night.
Both Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler stood out as particularly noteworthy choices among all of the alternatives that were available to him.
Despite the fact that he is not a natural offensive midfielder, the former has demonstrated his ability to fill in for other players on many occasions throughout the previous season, providing the management with a tried and true alternative. Meanwhile, Guler was the ideal tactical fit, despite the fact that he had not been tested.
When it came down to it, the Italian strategist decided to give the Turkish prodigy the opportunity to begin. On the other hand, Diaz’s cameo off the bench was the one that garnered the most attention, despite the fact that Guler did not disappoint in any way.
A quarter of an hour of enchantment
During the previous season, Diaz was Ancelotti’s go-to option if Bellingham was unavailable for selection, and the kid made sure to seize every opportunity with both hands.
In the match against Real Valladolid that took place last night, the Spanish-Moroccan star came on in the 69th minute and provided nothing but more of the same.
The kid, who had just entered the game 19 minutes earlier, did an excellent job of controlling the long-range pass that Eder Militao had provided and then squeezed the trigger from the left side of the box to put the ball behind the goalie, thereby earning a spot on the scoresheet.
After a few minutes, he did an outstanding job of carrying the ball up the field and putting it on a platter for young Endrick to score his first goal for the club, earning him a well-deserved assist in the process.
Diaz, on the other hand, has been doing exceptionally well for Real Madrid ever since the beginning of the preseason. Despite the fact that he did not take part in the European Championships, he continued to play a more significant role during the United States tour and even contributed to two goals during the match against Chelsea.
Longing for more food
Diaz’s power-packed performance will rightfully be remembered more warmly by the Real Management, and as a result, the youngster’s prospects of receiving a start will be improved. Guler did not do much wrong in the 69 minutes that he spent on the field, but Diaz’s performance will continue to be remembered better.
Even though Carlo Ancelotti’s front three is nearly set in stone, the promising performances of the 25-year-old player necessitate that he be given a starting position in the middle of the field. This has put the manager in a difficult situation.
From a personal standpoint, I am delighted to be in a position to make a contribution. In his statement to the media after the game, Diaz merely emphasized the idea that he desires to play a more significant part on the club. “I am hungry for more,” he repeated.
This means that it is currently unknown whether or not Ancelotti would switch up his lineup and start Diaz in favor of Guler for the upcoming match that the squad will be playing.
As an additional alternative, it is possible to provide him with a position on the right flank in place of Rodrygo Goes.
