As the injured players gradually return to the field, the Italian must confront the inevitable challenge.
As reported by AS, the returns of Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos present Ancelotti with his first such dilemma, with both players likely to return to the lineup for Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad.
Who is the left-back right?
Mendy’s extended absence since mid-preseason provided Fran Garcia with a golden opportunity to establish his worth to the manager.
Obviously, the Spaniard seized his opportunity with both hands. The 24-year-old has averaged one vital pass and close to five defensive actions and eight recoveries per game in four career league appearances.
With Mendy’s return, it will be intriguing to see if Garcia has done enough to remain on the roster, or if the manager decides to stay with the French defender against Real Sociedad and in future games.
A muddled midfield
Dani Ceballos was the first Real Madrid player to sustain an injury this season. Shortly after proclaiming his contract renewal, the midfielder was suspended and did not travel with the team to the United States of America.
As his return approaches, it becomes evident that Ceballos has a mountain to conquer. If his battle for playing time last season was arduous, it is exponentially more so this season.
Ancelotti has the herculean challenge of regulating the minutes of players in the center of the field. With Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham almost certain to start, only two positions are realistically up for grabs among the seven players vying for four positions on the field.
