Entering his second year in charge at Real Madrid, manager José Mourinho has built a team that can win domestic and European trophies in the 2011-12 campaign.
The club has recently started their preseason training at UCLA, which gives the Portuguese tactician an opportunity to evaluate the majority of his players.
Although Mourinho still wants to bring in another striker this summer, he has already signed five players in the transfer window. With Madrid's new arrivals, in particular Nuri Şahin and Fabio Coentrão, the manager will be considering a switch in tactics and formation.
While Madrid enjoyed great success last year with the 4-2-3-1, a new system could bring out the best in Mourinho's new squad.
Here is a tactical analysis of Real Madrid and Mourinho's 4-3-3.
Pros:
-Flexibility of the three central midfielders
-Inclusion of Şahin
-Striker has better support from wingers
-Can dominate the midfield
-Natural shield in front of defense
-Gives fullbacks more freedom to join the attack
Switching to a 4-3-3 will give Madrid better balance in every third of the pitch. With the club's abundance of talent in the central midfield position, this new formation could be the ideal fit for Mourinho's men.
With the three central midfielders, Madrid will be able to control the middle. The system is more flexible than the 4-2-3-1, as Mourinho can play the three midfielders flat across or in a triangle formation.
Although the club has a multitude of world-class attacking talent, the lone striker looked too isolated up front at times last year. Switching to the 4-3-3 will give the centre-forward more natural support, as the wingers will be pushed higher up the pitch.
Cons:
-Vacant space in between central striker and central midfielders
-Can be exploited down the flanks
-Mesut Özil forced out wide
-Fewer out-and-out attackers on the pitch
-Less structure in midfield
The main drawback with the 4-3-3 is the vacant space on the pitch. Madrid will be playing with a traditional No. 10 attacking midfielder, leaving a void between the midfielders and central striker.
In addition, Mourinho's men could be vulnerable down the flanks. With Cristiano Ronaldo and the other wingers pushed high up the pitch, the opposition could exploit the space in front of the fullbacks. The central midfielders will have to cover out wide if the wingers do not track back defensively.
Changing to a 4-3-3 will also force Özil to play out on the right wing. Although he played a few games in that position last year, it is not his natural position. The German international is a true No. 10 who excels playing in the pocket of space behind the striker. Moving him out wide will slightly limit his mobility and creativity.
Impact of Nuri Şahin and Fabio Coentrão
Şahin will have a significant impact if Mourinho opts to play with a 4-3-3 next season.
The three central midfielders would be key to the new formation and its success. Due to Şahin being heavily left-footed, he could slot in on the left of a flat three in midfield, with Xabi Alonso in the middle and Sami Khedira on the right. Although that would seem like the most logical formation for the three central midfielders, Madrid would also benefit from playing them in a triangle similar to Arsenal's midfield.
Şahin and Khedira would be the deeper-lying midfielders, with Alonso in a slightly more advanced and free role. The Turkish star would be the Jack Wilshere-type genuine central midfielder, with Khedira as the most defensive option and Alonso in the Cesc Fabregas-type pass-master role.
Although Şahin has exceptional passing skills, he has undervalued defensive abilities. He may not be the most physical midfielder, but he wins his share of tackles. The Turkish international naturally drops deep to get on the ball, which would make him a great partner alongside Khedira.
By playing Şahin at the base of the midfield triangle, Madrid can get the best out of Alonso. At times last season, the Spaniard was unable to dictate play due to his defensive responsibilities and the opposition’s high pressure. Playing him in the slightly more advanced midfield role would give him more freedom to find space, distribute and pick out teammates in the final third. When playing for Spain, Alonso has more space and time on the ball due to their tiki-taka style, but also because he plays a more attack-minded central midfield role.
With the wingers pushed further up field, the fullbacks will have less defensive cover from teammates. Although Marcelo significantly improved his tackling last year, Mourinho could prefer Coentrão for his stronger defensive qualities.
The left back will be isolated in one-on-one situations due to Cristiano Ronaldo's tendency to stay forward. Coentrão has good defensive instincts, which could put him in prime position for a regular place in Mourinho's starting XI.
Real Madrid Probably Starting 11:
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
Right back: Sergio Ramos
Centre back: Pepe
Centre back: Ricardo Carvalho
Left back: Fábio Coentrão
Central Midfielder: Sami Khedira
Central Midfielder: Xabi Alonso
Central Midfielder: Nuri Şahin
Right-winger: Mesut Özil
Left-winger: Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker: Karim Benzema
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