Highly anticipated in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganés this Wednesday, young defender Jacobo Ramón had a tough debut. In a press conference after the 3-2 victory, Carlo Ancelotti refused to criticise the 20-year-old player. Instead, he made a big promise.
Having been completely deprived of his key defensive players in recent days, Carlo Ancelotti hurriedly introduced a new player into the heart of Real Madrid’s central defence on Wednesday. Alongside Raúl Asensio, who has already shown he has the composure to handle the pressure at the professional level, the Madrid coach took the gamble of starting Jacobo Ramón (20 years old) in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganés. Undoubtedly feeling the pressure, the 1.90m-tall young defender had a chaotic debut.
Ancelotti’s blunt analysis of Ramón
Giving away a penalty that allowed the opposition back into the game before half-time, the Madrid reserve defender, who was only playing his second professional match, showed significant fragility. Clumsy in his challenges, Jacobo Ramón also missed several interventions and passes that seemed within his reach. Given the difficult fixtures ahead for Real Madrid, many Madrid fans do not want to see the young defender on the pitch again.
Facing the media after the hard-fought 3-2 victory, snatched in added time thanks to another reserve team player, Gonzalo García, Carlo Ancelotti categorically refused to drop Ramón from the first team. “Jacobo paid the price for his first match. He was a bit nervous at the start, but then he became more precise in his play. Gonzalo is in great form with Castilla and also contributed tonight. We have to be satisfied with what the young players have done because they have helped the team,” said the Madrid coach.
“Jacobo is not the player he showed today”
After discussing the general lack of experience among reserve team players who are thrown into the first team in the middle of the season due to the squad’s heavy fixture list and numerous injuries, Carlo Ancelotti reminded everyone that Jacobo Ramón is coming back from a long injury absence of over three months. “We have to take into account that Jacobo is recovering from a long injury. He hasn’t played for three months. He’s just getting started, but he still needs time…,” insisted the Madrid coach.
With the Madrid derby approaching on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu, where the Liga top spot will be at stake, the former Bayern Munich manager announced that he will not rule out his new defensive reinforcement. “Jacobo is not the player he showed today. His first match was very demanding. He is a very good defender. We count on him, and he will stay with us until the end of the season. And, in fact, he will play better than he did today—I’m convinced of it.“
This strong statement will surely be reassuring for the 20-year-old. While his first half was complicated, Ramón showed promising signs in the second half. Standing at 1.90m, he won a few aerial duels and continued to battle. With David Alaba’s latest physical setback and Antonio Rüdiger’s situation, Real Madrid will have to rely on reserve team players. One thing is certain: we will see Jacobo back on the pitch in the coming days.
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