Praise, oxygen for Kroos and Modric

Defender David Alaba during his presentation at Real MadridReal Madrid

What does a favorite position mean?

I have played many years as a left-back, then as a center-back, in other positions… as a center-back I have more influence in the game… ”.

This is how David Alaba, presented this Wednesday as a new Real Madrid player, answered when during the Eurocup they asked him where he liked to play the most.

And there, as a left-handed center-back, he will initially play for the white club.

They have signed him to be the first link in the attacking game.

What neither Real Madrid nor the footballer suspected when they formalized the signing, back in March, is that the team's coach was going to be Carlo Ancelotti, who already had him under his command at Bayern for 454 days this season 2016-17 and a couple of months into the next. The Italian coach then used the Austrian preferably as a left back. In 78 percent of the games he played as a winger, and only in 22 percent did he place him as a left-handed central defender. The reason had its weight. It had Hummels and Boateng in full.

The versatility of the Austrian international has allowed him to play throughout his career, both in his clubs and in the national team, in seven different positions. In addition to the two mentioned, 247 games as a left-back and 116 as a left-back, he has acted from inside that band (17); defensive midfielder (10) and offensive (68) in a double-pivot; inside right (4) and extreme right (1). This formula of playing with a different leg that allows him to shape himself for the shot with his dominant foot, his left, curiously has not been much exploited by his coaches despite the power and precision that he has shown with his left-handed shots and how It reflects in the set pieces actions that he executes to perfection.

Van Gaal, in 2010, made him debut for Bayern in a Cup match as a midfielder and in that position he played the entire second round in his loan to Hoffenheim (2010-11). At that point, the Dutch coach has already publicly declared that "Alaba is a great left-back, but he still doesn't know it." And the one who let him know was Heynckes, who granted him the title in that position (2011-13). In his first year with Guardiola (2013-14), he stayed there in 98 percent of the games, but in the next two he already began to alternate his position between the wing (58%), the center of the defense (31 %) and the center of the field (11%).

Ancelotti again moved him to the side, like Niko Kovak later until he was dismissed. With the arrival of Flick, Alaba-central (84%) was consolidated, by 15% as a midfielder and only one percent as a left-handed winger. While this was happening at Bayern, his team alternated three positions at the same time with a similar performance but much greater influence on the collective game.

And it is precisely this facet that Ancelotti wants to multiply at Real Madrid. From the left-handed center-back position, Alaba will play a major role in the ball exit, regardless of the team's tactical positioning (4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1). You will be the leader of the defense. Both when marking where the block has to defend, and at the beginning of the offensive balance. He dominates the game in short and lavishes on the changes of orientation, which Sergio Ramos did until now. At Bayern he already assumed this role of organizer. With possession, he will become a second midfielder at the height of Casemiro, but it will be his responsibility to start the game.

These last seasons, Zidane placed that trust in Kroos and Modric, while Casemiro advanced his position to be prepared for a second action or recovery in case of loss. Creative work seems predestined now for the Austrian. His energy, remarkable physical condition and his good understanding of matter allow him to occupy a greater area of ​​influence and Modric and Kroos will be able to see their defensive efforts reduced by having less field of travel.

Alaba is used to playing with a high defense and with the winger of his wing very advanced. It has mechanized the tilting towards that side and its experience allows it to dominate the spaces with authority, always shrinking forward. Sometimes life is complicated by his obsession with always trying to anticipate and then be thrown out of place if his recovery does not prosper.

Possibly his main flaw is the passing game.

Aware of this, it is not usually lavished in aerial disputes (47.8 lost last season) and it should be Casemiro or the other central (Militao or Nacho) who look for those balls divided by high.

Left-handed closed, he defends well with the right for safety passes and short supports.

As soon as he has a passing line, he looks for depth and his elegant conductions with the ball allow the team to stretch with quick transitions.

His effectiveness from set pieces is another scoring alternative.

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