Real Madrid Manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Jude Bellingham could maintain his advanced role as the wrong nine for the Copa del Rey final on Saturday against Barcelona.
The Italian trainer has increasingly come under pressure after Madrid was unloaded after a 5-1 defeat against Arsenal from the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Some reports have gone so far that Ancelotti will no longer be in the works immediately after the cup final.
Madrid’s unshakable head coach insists that no decision has been made and shoots a title that can only strengthen his position. The Ancelotti team has already been strongly beaten by Barcelona twice this season, which prompted the 65-year-old to consider a change in the approach this weekend.
The view that Bellingham was in a more advanced role in the middle was raised this weekend. The English international achieved an astonishing graduation of 23 goals from this position last season, but was pushed back into midfield in summer after Kylian Mbappes. The Frenchman was suspended on Sunday for Madrid’s 1-0 victory over the Athletic Club, so Bellingham was able to flourish in a return to this system.
“This position made us a lot of advantage last season,” said Ancelotti. “He did very well today, especially in the second half, because we attacked more and he deserves to score a goal.”
Ancelotti also considered a broader tactical shift from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2. “That doesn’t mean that I have to play with four midfielder,” warned the Italian. “Sometimes the two strikers Mbappe and Vinicius and Jew were on the left, but it was a 4-4-2. They can play with six midfielder. We have wingers who can play in the middle.”
Madrid was ruthlessly dismantled by Barcelona in October when she continued with a 4-4-2 with Mbappe and Vinicius on his tip behind a midfield line from Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. Ancelotti pursued a front approach for the Supercopa de Espana final in January and hired a first-class quartet from Mbappe, Bellingham Vinicius and Rodrygo. Madrid was beaten up 5-2.
The defending champion La Laiga Meister have to navigate against Getafe against Getafe on Wednesday evening before they can concentrate on the final on Saturday.