(foto: Getty Images)
With Ferland Mendy joining a long list of injured players, Real Madrid now face the end of the season without their entire first-choice defense, highlighting a lack of investment in the back line.
Real Madrid are facing a full-blown defensive crisis. With Ferland Mendy the latest to go down injured, Carlo Ancelotti is now without his entire starting back line—further exposing the club’s failure to reinforce the defense this season.
The warnings were there last summer. Despite mounting concerns and aging depth, Real Madrid chose not to sign any defenders, instead opting to bring in superstar forward Kylian Mbappe. That decision now looks increasingly costly.
Mendy is expected to miss nearly three months, adding to a growing list that includes Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger. To make matters worse, Eduardo Camavinga—a midfielder often deployed at left-back—is also unavailable.
With few options remaining, Ancelotti is expected to deploy Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Fede Valverde in emergency defensive roles. Youngsters Fran García and Raúl Asensio are likely to be called upon, and even academy talent Jacobo Ramón could see time on the pitch.
Once hopeful of challenging for the La Liga title, Real Madrid are now further adrift of leaders Barcelona, and fans are bracing for a trophyless campaign. Despite the arrival of Mbappe, Madrid have failed to produce consistent results in attack or defense.
The season promised so much. But unless Ancelotti can pull off a miracle with a makeshift defense, Real Madrid may end up empty-handed.