Real Madrid national player Antonio Rüdiger will miss the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at RB Leipzig. Coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts calmly to failures – that is one of the secrets of his success.
It is in the nature of things that Spain’s leading newspaper “El Pais” devotes itself intensively to what is happening at Real Madrid. As early as the summer of 2022, the paper noted that coach Carlo Ancelotti “challenges his legendary status”. Because the old master in the dugout, who always seems so calm, just doesn’t stop winning titles at club level.
The Italian with a penchant for good food has developed a feel for the right ingredients when selecting staff and tactics like a star chef. And so the “Royal” trophy cabinet continues to fill up.
The 4-1 triumph against arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia a month ago turned into a show of force – and reinforced the club’s self-image that it did not react to the tremendous bad luck with injuries with panic attacks in the winter transfer market .
A trio is missing Cruciate ligament tears
First-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and regular defenders David Alaba and Eder Militão are all out with torn cruciate ligaments, but the Champions League record winner did without possibly overpriced replacements for the crucial phase of the season. The personnel situation is still tense before the first leg of the round of 16 at RB Leipzig (Tuesday 9 p.m.), but Ancelotti recently worked as an improviser again in the 4-0 win against upstarts FC Girona.
Just a quick twitch of his eyebrow and then the 64-year-old apparently thought of something new again: the trained full-back Daniel Carvajal and the midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni formed the defensive team, because the defense chief Antonio Rüdiger, who was valued by the former coach of FC Bayern, is also due is currently not available for action due to a severe bruise in his left thigh – and will not be present in the first knockout game in the premier class in Leipzig.
Undisputed leader in La Liga
Despite one thing “World record for failures” (Ancelotti) his players make a virtue out of necessity. With 61 points after 24 match days and only two defeats, the “Royals” are fully on course for the championship. The well-rehearsed team completes its extremely demanding program confidently, at times almost calmly.
At the front, the two Brazilians Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior are harmonizing better and better, presenting their opponents with unsolvable puzzles with their speed and finesse. Suddenly, Real doesn’t even seem to need a classic center forward anymore. Jude Bellingham has been outstanding since his move to the Spanish capital, and Jude Bellingham has repeatedly pushed his way to the top from an extremely attack-oriented midfield.
Gets along well with his colleagues: Toni Kroos congratulates Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga
Jude Bellingham shines as an all-rounder
The ex-Dortmunder also shone as a double goalscorer against Girona and leads the top scorers list in the Spanish league with 16 goals. Due to a severe sprain in his left ankle, the 20-year-old, who according to BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke could ultimately bring in 135 million euros, now has to take a break for two or three weeks. The English all-rounder will definitely miss the guest appearance with the Saxons.
Therefore, many eyes are likely to be on a German top performer who may return to the German national team squad for the home European Championships. Toni Kroos is still in brilliant form at Real; the 34-year-old completed 33 of 34 passes in the home game against Girona.
Together with Eduardo Camavinga, who is almost 13 years his junior, Kroos dominated the midfield and distributed like one quarterback the balls. National coach Julian Nagelsmann has so far only given hints about the comeback of the ball-safe strategist, but at the beginning of the month his assistant Sandro Wagner also spoke clearly in favor of the return of the Rio world champion in a talk at the Spobis sports business congress. “I personally think it would be nice; he is one of the greatest players in our history.” Besides, Kroos can still run, the assistant coach noted with a wink: “We need every good man – I would actually be happy.”
Incidentally, Wagner expects that when the squad is announced (March 14, 2024) for the friendly games against France (March 23, 2024) and the Netherlands (March 26, 2024) from the national coach “80, 90 percent of the squad will be called up that will be at the European Championships”.
National player Rüdiger calls for Kroos to return
Before the Madrilenians’ guest appearance in Leipzig, Kroos’ teammate Rüdiger also renewed his plea: “It’s a home European Championship, we want to have the best players there, and I currently see Toni as one of our best Germans because he is also one of Real Madrid’s best players at the moment.”said the 30-year-old in an interview with the trade magazine “Kicker”.
Rüdiger revealed that he doesn’t know whether Kroos is even considering returning to the home tournament after 106 international matches so far. “He’ll make the decision for himself. No other Toni has to talk into his ear every day.” You’re talking about a player who has been here at Real Madrid for ten years, “who is still shown a great deal of respect”said the former Stuttgarter.
“You have to do that first, that’s an incredible achievement for me.” Kroos has achieved so much that he actually doesn’t have to prove anything anymore, but the duel between the two-time German Cup winner and the Spanish trophy collector is also in focus because of him.