An insight into the one major selection headache facing Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the club’s Champions League showdown with Manchester City next week has today been provided.
And it should come as little surprise to hear that it comes at the heart of Real’s defence.
The centre-half situation in Spain’s capital has of course proven a headline talking point across the season to date.
As much comes with a host of fitness issues having forced the aforementioned Ancelotti and his staff to get creative with their line-up choices.
Upon the long-term absences of David Alaba and Éder Militão being temporarily added to by Antonio Rüdiger back in February, the likes of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Dani Carvajal were forced to try their hand in central defence.
And so impressive has the former looked in the role, that, despite both Rüdiger and Nacho being fully fit, and Militão having marked his return to the pitch last weekend, Tchouaméni is still viewed as a viable option to feature at the back from the off against Manchester City next week.
Los Blancos are of course primed to turn their attentions back towards matters on the domestic front next Tuesday, when they welcome Pep Guardiola’s City to the Santiago Bernabéu for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the clubs.
And, as per a report from The Athletic, though the bulk of his starting XI has already been decided upon, Carlo Ancelotti is continuing to wrestle with the decision of just who will partner Rüdiger at centre-back.
The two candidates are Tchouaméni and Nacho, with it currently viewed as ’50/50′ as to who will get the nod.
The call could also have an impact on Real’s engine room setup to face City, with Tchouaméni potentially in line to feature at the base of midfield, in the case of captain Nacho slotting in at the back.
Conor Laird | GSFN
