Bellingham Paradox

Jude Bellingham is set to return.

Three consecutive wins against Osasuna, Oviedo and Mallorca, conceding just one goal from a set-piece - a statistic any coach would dream of. But ironically, just when everything was going so well, Real were about to welcome back their €100 million star. And when Bellingham arrived, everything was sure to change.

A Real Madrid sure to surprise

Without Bellingham, Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid Madrid seems to have taken on a new look: disciplined, solid and in control. The defense that was criticized last season has now become a mainstay.

Courtois has made 44% fewer saves than he did under Carlo Ancelotti - a clear indication that the system has improved the defence, limiting the space available to opponents. Even Barcelona, in the same period, have conceded 12 clear-cut chances - a significant contrast.

There is a silver lining: Bellingham's absence has forced Xabi Alonso to rebuild his defence and organisation. Real Madrid are no longer reliant on individual bursts from midfield, but have become a more cohesive unit.

Jude Bellingham has scored some very important goals for Real Madrid.

However, no one can deny Bellingham's stature. Last season, the English midfielder scored 15 goals in 58 matches. In the 2023/24 season, the former Borussia Dortmund star scored 23 goals in 42 matches, carrying the club's attack in many stages.

He is the “premium package” Real Madrid paid over €100 million for Dortmund, and that role means Alonso cannot afford to leave him on the bench. The problem is: bringing Bellingham back would upset the balance Real have just found.

The question is: who will be the victim? Mastantuono - the young gem who has just made an impression, or Arda Güler - the creative left-footer that fans are gradually loving?

Two tactical paths

Alonso has two options, each with its own risks. The first is a 4-3-3, with Bellingham sitting deep alongside Tchouameni and Valverde. This makes him a box-to-box midfielder, further from goal, losing some of his danger in the box. In return, Mastantuono has a place in an attacking trio with Mbappe and Vinicius, while Güler is just a rotation option.

Next up is a 4-4-2, which puts Bellingham closer to goal. Valverde, Tchouameni and Güler form a solid defensive line, allowing Bellingham to get into the penalty area – where he was so destructive last season. But the price is that young Argentinean Mastantuono will all but disappear from the starting lineup.

Jude Bellingham's return gives coach Xabi Alonso a "pleasant" headache.

In fact, Real cannot “save” Bellingham. He is not only a star, but also a symbol of long-term investment and expectation. The problem is how Alonso will integrate him without destroying the solid foundation that has just been built.

The El Clasico match on October 26 could be the milestone to answer all: will Bellingham return to his true form from last season - an all-round leader - or become the factor that makes Real unbalanced?

That is the paradox Real Madrid face: their biggest star can be both their ultimate weapon and a threat to stability. But in football, that luxury is also the prerogative of the big clubs.

When Bellingham returns, Xabi Alonso will have to prove that he is capable of both maintaining a defensive steel block and exploiting the qualities of the player known as “the most versatile midfielder of the generation”. And so, as the headline of AS newspaper dedicated to this player: “Bellingham will change everything”.

Source: https://znews.vn/nghich-ly-bellingham-post1583228.html