Real Madrid is slowly but surely taking steps towards becoming the best version of itself, and the key pieces in Xabi Alonso’s scheme are beginning to emerge. Two of those pillars are Tchouaméni and Arda Güler. The Frenchman is the tactical key to the team, central in defense and a midfielder in attack, while the young Turk has seen the coach entrust him with being the team’s architect, giving him responsibility for bringing the ball out of defense and the freedom to move and thread balls between the lines.
The importance of Tchouaméni
Xabi Alonso is very clear about what he wants from Aurélien Tchouaméni and what the player needs to improve defensively to become a more complete player who can fill in as a third center back. Speaking to the press, Xabi emphasized the importance he places on the player and the role he can play in the team. “Aurélien Tchouaméni has that desire to progress, to improve, to want to be important. Tchouaméni is a key player because of his weight, because of the different roles he can play depending on the position he has to occupy…”
Xabi Alonso’s plan is to turn Aurelien Tchouaméni into the third center back. The player has always said that he wants to play in midfield and not as a center back, but Xabi Alonso is offering him a hybrid role between the two, as he believes he can do it. What the coach wants from what will be a key player in his scheme is for him to be the third center back when the opponent attacks and to act as a fourth midfielder when Real Madrid has possession.
The player’s versatility is proving key, as was clear against Juventus, where Xabi Alonso expected a much more aggressive Italian side, so he once again started with the French player in defense, before finally placing him as a double pivot alongside Arga Guler, which allowed them to dominate the game. “At the beginning, with Aurélien too deep, we had too many people behind the ball… As we had one too many coming out, we put in a double 6 with Arda and Tchouaméni, with the center backs turning the game around because Kolo Muani was getting through inside when we tried to get the ball out quickly,” said Alonso.
Arda Güler, the architect
Alonso wants to make Arda a complete footballer. He has repositioned him in midfield and given him the reins of the team, as well as freedom of movement to direct the team’s play, where he is proving that he can be the new Modric. The Turkish player is increasingly comfortable at the helm of Madrid. However, as we said about the Frenchman, he has a weak point that needs improvement.
The young player knows how to keep his head up and read the game, and he has a prodigious left foot that places the ball where the player wants it, both short and long, but positioning himself to anticipate and cut off passes is something he needs to polish and work on under Xabi Alonso. The coach will work closely with the Turkish player, who promises to be a good student as he has no shortage of desire to be a star and succeed with Real Madrid.