{"id":1888,"date":"2026-07-11T19:33:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T19:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nile1.com\/en\/?p=1888"},"modified":"2026-07-12T13:20:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T13:20:02","slug":"claude-makelele-identifies-tactical-void-in-real-madrids-midfield-evolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nile1.com\/en\/2026\/07\/11\/claude-makelele-identifies-tactical-void-in-real-madrids-midfield-evolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Claude Makelele Identifies Tactical Void in Real Madrid\u2019s Midfield Evolution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Claude Makelele, the architect of the modern defensive midfield role, believes Real Madrid<\/a> remains structurally incomplete despite their recent successes. Speaking to DAZN, the former France international argued that the current squad lacks a specific profile: a midfielder capable of carrying the ball through pressure and breaking lines to connect directly with the attack.<\/p>\n

“At Real Madrid, there isn\u2019t that type of midfielder who carries the ball and breaking lines,” Makelele told the broadcaster. He suggested that the absence of this verticality forces players like Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 out of position, undermining the team’s offensive efficiency.<\/p>\n

Makelele\u2019s assessment comes as the club prepares for a new era under Jos\u00e9 Mourinho<\/a>. While the Portuguese manager has a history of tactical pragmatism, Makelele warned that coaching alone will not suffice. “Mourinho isn\u2019t stupid… He knows he\u2019s going to need a strong team to win La Liga,” he noted. Under the current La Liga regulations<\/a> regarding squad registration and financial sustainability, Madrid\u2019s ability to pivot in the transfer market remains a focal point of European football strategy.<\/p>\n

The former midfielder singled out Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni<\/a> as the “consistent player” of the previous campaign, labeling him the only one to perform from beginning to end. This endorsement arrives after a period of intense scrutiny for the Frenchman, who has navigated both internal squad friction and persistent transfer rumors linking him with a move away from the Bernab\u00e9u during squad restructuring discussions.<\/p>\n

The tactical deficit identified by Makelele directly impacts the output of Kylian Mbapp\u00e9. Defending the forward against recent criticism, Makelele argued that Mbapp\u00e9 is often forced to collect the ball in deep positions because the midfield cannot transition it effectively. “Mbapp\u00e9 often comes to collect the ball in midfield, and who\u2019s going to be up front?” Makelele asked. <\/p>\n

In Makelele’s view, the solution is a player who can deliver quick passes to the attackers and maintain the team’s verticality. Without this link, even a striker of Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s caliber becomes isolated or diluted by defensive duties, a problem Makelele believes must be solved to maximize the current roster.<\/p>\n

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