Ancelotti Addresses Valverde’s Role Amidst Bellingham’s Spotlight

As Real Madrid commences the season, Fede Valverde’s absence from the scoresheet in the opening two games stands in contrast to the luminance of Jude Bellingham’s performances.

Carlo Ancelotti acknowledges that the club’s tactical shift to a 4-4-2 formation may curtail Valverde’s goal contributions this season. In this altered role, Valverde occupies a deeper position on the field, a departure from his previous attacking stance.

Ancelotti elucidates, “I think that in the system, Fede’s position has changed a little. He plays a little further back than last year and that can help him.”

Furthermore, the coach highlights Valverde’s adaptation to the modified dynamics, remarking, “He has perfectly understood that if he has space, he has to run with the ball.”

Last season, Valverde impressively tallied 12 goals and supplied seven assists across 56 matches. Ancelotti’s assessment hints that replicating this remarkable statistic may prove challenging this season.

As the campaign unfolds, Valverde’s role adaptation under the new system presents a nuanced dimension to Real Madrid’s strategy, reflecting the team’s quest to harmonize its players’ strengths within the evolving framework.