Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius or Rodrygo? Carlo Ancelotti considering 'mini-revolution' at Real Madrid and plans to drop one of his star forwards

It was believed that Mbappe's arrival would make Real Madrid an unstoppable force in Spain and Europe. However, the team has found it difficult to achieve their customary balance and fluidity with the French star’s introduction and have laboured to victories in La Liga and the Champions League.

According to Marca, Ancelotti, who does not shy away from tactical innovation to bring the best out of the squad, has reached a crucial conclusion: a shift towards a four-midfielder formation. This move aims to restore the balance that has been missing, intending to make the team more solid without sacrificing their attacking threat. Although the change will not be applied in every game, it is expected to be rolled out in key fixtures, particularly away from the Santiago Bernabeu and in high-stakes matches including the upcoming derby against Atletico.

With Vinicius, Mbappe, and Rodrygo all unwilling to relinquish their position in a three-man forward line, Ancelotti is now faced with the challenge of dropping one of them to accommodate the additional midfielder. While this decision has yet to be finalized, the prospect of benching any one of these players would have been unthinkable before the season began. The coaching staff acknowledges that this change might not sit well with the attacking trio but Ancelotti seems willing to make difficult decisions in pursuit of long-term success.

One player who will be pivotal in this tactical reorganization is Jude Bellingham. In the new setup, Bellingham will not only continue his attacking duties but also take on additional defensive responsibilities, particularly on the left side of the midfield. Before facing Atletico on September 29, Ancelotti has two matches in hand to understand how the experiment pans out. It remains to be seen if the Italian introduces the changes right away against Espanyol on Saturday.