Three Real Madrid Changes Under Lopetegui

DBasia.news – The defending winner of Champions League in three consecutive times, Real Madrid, just played three initial matches of 2018-2019 against Atletico Madrid (2-4), Getafe (2-0), and Girona (4-1). Los Merengues’ journey started the new era under Julen Lopetegui.

There is no more Zinedine Zidane who has been playing for Madrid in two years and succeeded to gain the trophies. There is also no more Cristiano Ronaldo who played for nine years in the club, also contributed many trophies and scored his name as part of club’s legend.

Lopetegui came with a huge responsibility to continue Madrid’s success story, made the fans and players forget about Zidane and Ronaldo. So far, the 51-year-old coach succeeded to erase their shadows by his assertiveness in playing Madrid. At least, there are three changes in Madrid. What are they?

1.Ball Possession with Short-Long Passing Combination

The era and situation change so fast. Previously, Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola were known for their tiki-taka strategy due to absolute ball possession with short passings, the entertaining offensive game.

Currently, Madrid are doing it under Lopetegui with 1.505 passings compared to Barcelona’s 1.470 passings, with a success rate around 90,76 percent compared to 87,89 percent. Madrid’s central game led by Toni Kroos. He has done 226 passings and 220 of them successfully reached the teammates.

The change was bigger compared to Zidane’s era, who depended on ball possession with quick play to score the goal, not emphasizing on the team passings. Lopetegui taught the football philosophy in Spain national team.

2.Fair Player Choice

Regardless of the star, senior, or young player, Lopetegui will only send the player to the pitch according to their statistic performance in the previous match. It can be seen from three Madrid matches, Luka Modric who always played during Zidane, stayed on the bench by Lopetegui.

The same thing goes to Thibaut Courtois who just came from Chelsea. Lopetegui won’t disturb the team atmosphere by giving him the chance to perform, whereas Keylor Navas is still proper to play. Navas has been playing as Madrid’s number one goalkeeper for four years.

Marcelo also becomes the ‘victim’ of Lopetegui’s firmness when he was withdrawn at 60′ against Girona, also benching of Raphael Varane who has been the tandem of Sergio Ramos in the same match. Lopetegui chose Nacho as Ramos’ partner in the defensive line. Lopetegui’s policy in choosing the player is worth appreciating.

3.Collective Sense

“The team is the one that works and when it works, the goals come in the form of Gareth, Karim or Sergio. The important thing is that they arrive, not who gets them, the team has made collective sense,” Lopetegui said after the match against Girona.

That’s what Lopetegui does: not depending on one or two players. So far, Lopetegui could do that hence Madrid players are not passing the ball to one specific player, just like when Ronaldo played. The opponents’ players also faced the difficulty to anticipate Madrid’s deadly players due to the balance of strength.