The Real Madrid v Manchester City debut confirmed a fact seen before: five changes are never consumed in big games. With the exception of overtime or penalty shootouts, substitutions are almost never-ending, and coaches tend to keep the players they bet on from the very beginning.
Carlo Ancelotti made three substitutions before the 81st minute and made none. This confirms that the coaches’ initial bet rarely changes when the match is crucial and the opponent is important. Carletto has never hidden his commitment to a group of regular players he even calls the “untouchables”, including Modric, Kroos, and Benzema. When asked about the veterans’ physical condition, he said, “They set the pace of the game and direct their efforts.”
He didn’t care that Kroos and the Frenchman had played the King’s Cup final in Seville by Saturday midnight. He kept them on the field and Only in the last ten minutes Asensio used Tchouameni and Nacho. Actually, In league matches, the Italian usually consumes the last five changes more as recognition. towards players who enter it as a strategic decision.
If Ancelotti only made three, Guardiola gave 90 minutes to 11 men who started the game directly. It is not Pep coach’s job to make changes in matches immediately. Nor to consume substitutes. But against Madrid, two minutes into last year’s elimination, still bleeding from his wound, he decided not to touch anything and kept the top five throughout the game.
Guardiola does not move the tree
“I thought the people there were good. Those present have a certain packaging, the players holding the ball… Madrid has players who are making career transitions… If the match goes crazy, we don’t have as good a level as them,” he admitted in the press room at the end of the match.
City took possession and won the court in the first half hour, when Courtois had several chances to successfully cancel. Then came the blow of Vinicius, and the legs of the British trembled. Ancelotti stated clearly in front of the microphones: “They had the ball, but we were in control.” It’s that simple. Just as Madrid showed that it’s not about possession, it’s about knowing what to do with the ball when you have it, so Carletto and Guardiola revealed the importance of the changes.
Real Madrid optimism
Modric was optimistic despite going to Etihad without an advantage: “We were patiently waiting for our chance, they had the ball but they didn’t create many chances. We suffered, we persevered and after the goal we improved in the press and ball. We played a good game, we found chances and the conceded goal is embarrassing. We deserved more but the result is positive. We’re going to Manchester with the same enthusiasm and confidence that we can win.”
Modric’s moderate optimism could be extended to the remaining members of the white team. Ancelotti himself concluded with a positive decision: “We are going to Manchester with good emotions and optimism.” Two things are clear: football is a mood and five changes is a milonga.