Real Madrid & the Role of Tactics at Elite Teams

Does a team need a complex tactical structure to be elite?

In recent times we have seen complex tactical approaches from managers and clubs like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and even Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern Munich. But does a club need one to be successful? Real Madrid would argue not.

Jon Mackenzie explains, Marco Bevilacqua illustrates.

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[terretetetito]

Carlo Ancelotti: "I am not an obsessive manager. I really like football, it's my passion, but I try to run things as simply as possible. To me, football is not complicated, it's simple. So is the strategy of the games, it shouldn't complicate things. Because there's two aspects: defence and attack. Attacking is more about creativity, and defending is more about organizination. I believe I can give more to the players in the defensive aspect than in the offensive aspect. I can organize them to defend well, but the attacking aspect is about talent and creativity and I don't want to get in the way of that talent. Am I supposed to tell Benzema how to move inside the box, train certain movements with him? No, he doesn't need that. The passes that Modric pulls out of nowhere: do you think I ever tell him "pass the ball like this, if this player moves here you do that"? No, that's all him."

[safwan]

Zidane's Madrid with the 3 peat also was similar in the sense that Zidane gave his players freedom, he gave tactical instructions, in game tweaks, and basic structure, but he knew he had elite players that didn't need stringent systems. That's why they won so much in historic fashion. Because great players need managers that trust them and help them to get the best out of themselves and the team.

[jonnyso]

Another notable problem with very systematic playstyles is that you become predictable, especially if you are a big club. Of course, knowing what the oponent is going to do and actually managing to counter it is another matter.

[cheangizzz]

Elite clubs still need system to compete. Trying to imitate this Real Madrid is way too risky. They are able to stay calm and focused on winning despite losing possession and having less chances because they know. That knowledge was collected through the years. Ever since La Decima to the 3 UCLs back to back with Zizou and including hard years after Ronaldo left. Through victory and defeat this team became immortal. Youngsters like Vini Jr, Rodrygo and Camavinga were massive for the victory but they needed the old guard to make sure it goes well and they did. Carlo was the perfect man for this changing room because of the way he can manage players. He saw people that won too much and talented youngsters then assured them they can't lose. I'm being a little cringe here, but as the Arsenal of 2004 are remembered as the Invincibles, I will remember this Real Madrid of 21-22 as the Immortals.

[Taizuren]

All fair play and props to Ancelotti, I'm a huge fan of him. But also I think Real Madrid is a unique story here, somewhat of a heritage I should say? I don't know man it's weird, just today they were
1-1 until the 89th minute and won the game 3-1 in the 96th minute (vs Espanyol) and this is why I love Madrid because their gameplay is to never give up. They have yet to miss the knockout stages a single season since the creation of the modern era Champions League format which is They're the only team to have done so too. I truly understood what Mourinho was saying in regards to "Football Heritage, " cheers

[Blkhole]

Mental fortitude also played a huge role in their wins. While I'm sure Carlo Ancelotti was also influential in this regard (he is after all a manager especially known for winning knockout competitions), they did enjoy a similar level of psychological dominance under Zidane as well, so I would say that it expands beyond the manager. Probably knowing that you're playing for the most succesful club in the world and that you're almost always going to be on the advantage gives you a degree of gravitas and confidence that a 'new money' club like PSG or City just wouldn't be able to muster.

[alibarznji]

Real Madrid is like that one guy who's really good at chess at times you think you've got him and out of nowhere he checkmates you.
They're so open that you can just attack as you wish, but you can't beat them when they're ready for ya.
I swear, Zidane's team would've won the UCL had it not been for so many injuries in 2019-2020 season

[nevilleachero]

Counter-attacking football only works if you have clinical finishers. These possessive-based teams can control the ball for as long as they want but if they can't finish their chances then it doesn't matter. Also, complex systems rarely work out because your players need to be 100% concentrated on the match and they become less focused the more fatigued they are. It's also difficult to make adjustments because if the coach is telling you to do something a certain way some players won't understand because they don't have the experience yet, and they rarely go over every possible scenario to win when their strategies get countered. Ancelotti and Zidane allowed their own players to develop their own adjustments based on their strengths and weaknesses. I remember watching the first half of the Liverpool vs Real Madrid champions league final and I told my brother that Benzema only needed 1 chance to score. Although Beneza's goal was ruled offside it still found the back of the net on his first shot attempt at goal. Minutes later Vinicius scored a goal behind TAA to secure the win. This Real Madrid side was not lucky their players showed up in these big games.

[samuelsibanda]

Real Madrid strength lies in knowing how to maximise their strengths and minimise their weaknesses. They have embraced suffering as a normal part of the game which makes them psychologically superior to any team.

[amenboughanmi]

Factors that favors Real Madrid
Their players have
Immense technical skills
Experience at the highest level
High footballing IQ
Strong mentality
Fliudity in tactics
Leadership
Players like Kroos, Modric are coaches inside the pitch, Benzema's charisma, Curtois a solid goalkeeper and the young players Vini the most technical player in the world along with Neymar, Rodrygo is so clutch, Valverde has three lungs they compliment the veterans and take from them all that experience to handle high pressure games, it's the DNA of Real Madrid only serial winners play look how Alaba was so quick to blend in because he came from a similar club in terms of winning mentality

[theguardintemriel]

Fighting aggressiveness with aggressiveness is suicide and fighting passiveness with passiveness is stupid. Madrid acted accordingly, their adaptiveness to address various kind of opponents is just world class. There's no point for Madrid to play in their opponents' games and fell into their trap.

[ivanjardel]

As a Madrid fan it’s really weird hearing that we relied on Vinicius, Benzema & Modric, you guys forget Rodrygo alot he’s always had good runs in the UCL since joining & saved us alot that’s why he was our super sub ! Those 3 are the ones the media loves but we relied on our whole team and yes Benzema was our best player but the rest delivered when he couldn’t, just watch the games

[nifemi_o]

I tried to explain Sir Alex's Man Utd teams to a friend who's new to football, but I couldnt quite articulate it. The description in this video works perfectly - a structure that allows players to flourish, unexpected tactical tweaks to get the advantage, motivation and man management, but no stringent "system" to speak of.

[Kimera]

Elite psychology, mental fortitude and excellent energy management.
Those "lucky" late goals do not look as lucky when energy levels are included in the perspective.
Playing less intense saves you more energy for late in games, and players with strong mentality and psychology will always be more clinical than what it appears to be late in games.
When a team regularly scores goals late in clutch games, it's no longer "luck".

[marttin]

Madrid winning is actually a huge plus for everyone. This wasn’t a galacticos team, the most expensive player in that winning squad was militao, and history and passion went over three clubs that have been famous for pouring money into the squad.

[tyroned]

Luck? At Bayern Munich there’s a saying : always luck is skill.

[mwambachembeya]

Real Madrid thrive in the chaos, when there's a sense of desperation in the air from the opposition team to put them down.

[manuelpalomares]

Real madrid only need the power of friendship .

[akashm]

Actually for the sake of football, it was good to see a team playing the kind of football I grew up watching and win in this so called era of philosophy merchants. Giving the responsibility to the players rather than a guy playing FIFA video game with his team from the side lines. The kind of football that produced the best players. Just look at a guy like Jesus, everything Brazilian about him was suppressed by Guardiola but a guy like vinucius is a joy to watch and showing what it means to be a Brazilian, and this is why I hate modern coaches and football, no room for the players and it's all about the managers. Real Madrid won with old school football and they believed in everything old school l, like the history and legacy of the club, passion, hardwork, fighting spirit and both the coach and the players brought into the legacy of real Madrid and screwed over these system merchants with sheer determination and passion and for that I am happy. I mean what kind of a football manager are you if you can't handle players. Tuchel and Lukaku at Chelsea, aubameyang at arsenal, these guy are soft, while Ancelotti made Kroos and Marcelo almost his assistant coaches and asking for their opinions on how to make subs during the CL games, these modern E- football mangers need to learn a few things from Ancelotti. And I am sad for football when Ancelotti who is the last of his kind disappears from football when he leaves Madrid and we stuck with these modern PlayStation managers who just control their teams with a joy stick from the side lines

[matafaka]

the thing about real Madrid is that the players has their own tactical knowledge and know hows on playing the game. There will be times where players would do their own stuff and it works and there will be times when it dont work. The key is balance. You need both individual brilliance and tactical superiority