With the international stars rejoining training in the United States, Carlo Ancelotti now has a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal ahead of the new season.
Less than a month remains before the league kicks off, and the Italian tactician is against the wall in terms of formulating a new dynamic.
The departure of Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio leaves the coach short-staffed in the forward department. At the same time, there is a renewed depth in midfield considering the arrivals of Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham.
Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Madrid Xtra) provides an insider’s update on the ideas the manager is implementing in his training sessions. According to the journalist, Ancelotti used Bellingham as the No. 9 in yesterday’s training.
The setup experimented with included Vinicius Jr on the left flank and Brahim Diaz down the right. The new midfield signing started as the number nine to complete the front three.
Another forward trio tried by the Italian tactician consisted of Rodrygo Goes down the left and Arda Guler on the right wing with Joselu playing as the central striker.
Both the permutations experimented based on the fundamental of a 4-3-3 formation, yet present contrasting dynamics. While Joselu served as an out-and-out finisher in his role, the idea of deploying Bellingham in the forward line is different.
The English star was asked to play as a false-nine in the setup, dropping behind the wingers and orchestrating play from the half-spaces. Needless to say, it is one of the options on Ancelotti’s mind for next season if the club do not sign another attacker.
Apart from the 4-3-3 of last season, the manager is also considering options including a 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-2-3-1 setup with a double pivot. The coming preseason games will provide a clearer insight into the options Ancelotti sees as candidate choices.