Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso is figuring out how to arrange the position of English midfielder Jude Bellingham in the team and may push Bellingham’s position forward. After Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Villarreal, Alonso admitted that Bellingham had received sufficient rest and training during the international break, and he would be an "extremely crucial" member of the team during the intensive fixture period in October.
Alonso has privately acknowledged that starting Bellingham too early in the Madrid Derby was a mistake. After that 2-5 heavy defeat, Bellingham sat on the bench for two consecutive games. Now, as Bellingham’s form is gradually recovering, how to get him back into the starting lineup has become a tactical problem Alonso needs to solve.
The biggest suspense now is which player will make way for Bellingham and how the team’s formation will be adjusted. Currently, young player Mastantonio is the one whose position is most at risk, especially after Vinícius Júnior’s form has rebounded and Arda Güler has secured his starting spot.
From a tactical perspective, Alonso needs to weigh two options: one is to continue using the existing 4-3-3 high-pressing system; the other is to switch to a diamond 4-4-2 formation similar to the one used during Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure, in order to fully unleash Bellingham’s offensive potential. These tactical systems are all under the consideration of the Spanish young coach.
This decision has become urgent because Real Madrid is about to face a tough fixture list. After playing against Getafe, Real Madrid will successively face strong opponents Juventus and Barça at home.
