Real Madrid take on La Deportiva Minera this Monday in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey. However, the latest training session was a cause for concern. Four key players were absent.
Real Madrid are going through a tricky period ahead of their trip to face La Deportiva Minera in the Copa del Rey. At the final training session on Sunday, four players were absent: Carvajal, Militao, Vallejo and Rüdiger. Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão missed training through injury, of course. But the absences of Antonio Rüdiger and Jesús Vallejo came as a surprise.
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Rüdiger, in particular, showed no signs of fatigue in the last match against Valencia. The most likely hypothesis is that Ancelotti wants him to rest. The German defender has played virtually every game this season, and a break could benefit him. Vallejo, who has been used less this season, could also be saved for the next few games. These absences show that Ancelotti is counting on other players to face La Deportiva Minera.
Ancelotti relies on substitutes and youngsters
With these absentees, Ancelotti will have to call on substitutes and youngsters from the youth academy. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Raul Asencio could be repositioned in defence against a team from a lower division. Indeed, Deportiva Minera play in the Second Federation, a level well below that of Real Madrid. However, Ancelotti stressed the importance of concentration and intensity. King’s Cup matches are often tricky, and Madrid will have to be careful.
La Deportiva Minera fans are dreaming of a repeat of Alcorcón’s 2009 victory over Real Madrid. To avoid any surprises, Madrid’s players will have to respect their opponents and play at 100%. In any case, Real Madrid are hungry for titles. After winning the European Supercup and the Club World Cup, Los Merengues are now aiming for the King’s Cup and the Spanish Supercup. Although these competitions are less prestigious than La Liga or the Champions League, they are still important for the club.
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