The midfield diamond system Carlo Ancelotti has used to set up Real Madrid this season has a significant flaw, but Ancelotti maintains that no formation is ever perfect.
With Madrid, Ancelotti used the tried-and-true 4-3-3 formation, which served as the foundation for their 2022 Champions League victory. Jude Bellingham is positioned behind two center strikers in a 4-4-2 diamond, which has made things different in 2023–24.
The system’s lack of breadth is its most glaring shortcoming, placing a tremendous amount of pressure on full-backs to play both offence and defence, leaving them to perform the duties of many players.
The 3-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in the city derby over the weekend was partly a result of leaving space on the flanks.
Madrid may not now have the players to play any other style due to their lack of attackers and plenty of midfielders, but Ancelotti is adamant that the issue can be resolved.
“Criticism is normal when things don’t go well,” he said at a press conference prior to the upcoming La Liga clash with Las Palmas on Wednesday night.
“I don’t care, it’s part of being coach of Real Madrid. We have to see the things we have done well, which are many, and the things we have done wrong, which are few, but we have to concentrate.
“My evaluation is different from everyone else. I know what we have to do, taking into account that until now we have done well, improving things.
“Each system has its weakness, the diamond is not the perfect system, but the 4-3-3 neither, each one has his weakness. The diamond allows you to press higher, be more energetic, but you can be caught out of position, because the [central players] do not always reach the [wings]. We are working on this. The problem is obvious and it can be fixed.”
In each of their previous three La Liga games against Getafe, Real Sociedad, and Atletico, Madrid has let up early goals in the first half. Against the previous couple, they were able to recover from behind and win, but Atletico was more merciless and had a 2-0 lead less than a quarter of the way through the derby.
Unsettlingly, these issues have arisen despite the fact that Ancelotti discussed the defensive weakness of the diamond setup back in July during preseason.
“With the diamond in midfield we have a lot of central pressure and less lateral pressure. You have to swing better and press with the full-backs,” the Italian said at the time. “In terms of the defence, it is not the best system, but I have to adapt the characteristics of the players.”