Ancelotti Speaks on Benching Asencio and Starting Alaba
This past Saturday, Real Madrid suffered a crucial defeat against Real Betis. Not only did they lose their solo lead at the top of La Liga to Barcelona, but the loss also raised concerns ahead of their Champions League campaign. On Tuesday, they will host Atlético Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu with several uncertainties looming.
One of the key questions revolves around the center-back partnership. In Seville, Ancelotti opted for David Alaba alongside Antonio Rüdiger. Since the Austrian defender recovered from his injury, the coach’s plan has been to pair him with Rüdiger. However, this decision left Raúl Asencio sidelined.
Alaba had a crucial test at the Benito Villamarín, but the result was not entirely convincing. According to various sources from Valdebebas, Ancelotti reportedly commented, “It’s not a reliable pairing yet.” As a result, he is reconsidering his defensive choices for important matches.
Although he has not made a final decision, signs indicate that Ancelotti may revert to Asencio for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. The return leg, set to take place at Atlético’s Metropolitano Stadium, remains uncertain.
Ancelotti’s Long-Term Plan for Alaba
Despite his current doubts, Ancelotti is clear about his long-term vision: he wants Alaba to be the starting center-back. He has full confidence in Alaba’s leadership and prefers him as Rüdiger’s partner. However, Alaba still needs to regain full match fitness.
To facilitate this, Ancelotti will continue giving him game time to build his rhythm. The goal is for Alaba to be fully prepared within a few weeks to secure a starting spot. Until then, Asencio will continue playing in high-stakes matches alongside Rüdiger.
However, once Alaba is back to peak form, Ancelotti may face another point of friction with Real Madrid’s fanbase. Supporters believe Asencio should retain his spot due to his impressive performances. If Alaba fails to meet expectations, calls for Asencio’s return to the lineup will grow louder.
