Real Madrid’s makeshift centre-back, Aurelien Tchouameni, found himself under heavy criticism once again from the club’s supporters following their recent defeat against Espanyol.
The Frenchman, who had been asked by manager Carlo Ancelotti to play in a centre-back role, struggled to make an impact and his performance reaffirmed the doubts surrounding his suitability for this position, as it is clear that this is not where he thrives.
Tchouameni was exposed time and again when faced with the challenge of tracking opponents in open space, especially during Espanyol’s counterattacks.
On several occasions, his attempt to intercept long balls from the opposition ended in errors that put his team under pressure.
It was evident that when Real Madrid are compact defensively, Tchouameni can hold his own, but once the play opens up, he struggles to adapt to the demands of playing in defence.
His positional sense seemed off, which only added to the growing frustration. For what it is worth, if this inconsistency persists, the Frenchman will find himself in hot water, especially with the fans.
There were moments during the match when teammate Asensio had to step in to help correct Tchouameni’s positioning. He often found himself too advanced, looking more like a midfielder than a centre-back.
This lack of understanding of his role left gaps in Real Madrid’s defence, which Espanyol nearly capitalised on.
Despite the criticism, it seems that Ancelotti is determined to continue using Tchouameni in this unfamiliar role.
With Antonio Rudiger now sidelined for the next two to three weeks due to injury, the manager will likely rely even more on Tchouameni to fill the void at centre-back.
While the Frenchman may not be ideal for the position, it appears that, for the time being, he will remain an integral part of Real Madrid’s defensive setup.