Carlo Ancelotti reveals plan to cope with centre-back injury crisis
- Antonio Rudiger is Madrid's only available centre-back for Saturday's game against Osasuna
- David Alaba is yet to recover from an injury, while Nacho Fernandez is suspended
- Madrid sit top of La Liga heading into the weekend's action
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed he plans to get creative with his lineup for Saturday's meeting with Osasuna due to the lack of centre-backs available to him.
Long-term absentee Eder Militao has been joined on the treatment table by David Alaba, while Nacho Fernandez begins a three-game suspension after being sent off late on in the 3-0 win over Girona.
As a result, Antonio Rudiger is the only senior centre-back available to Ancelotti for Saturday's game, but the boss insists he has options to cope.
"Alaba doesn’t feel 100% and is not going to play," Ancelotti confirmed. "The options we have are [Ferland] Mendy, [Aurelien] Tchouameni... You will find out.
"I think we can adapt, we will adapt well. As always, defending is task for the whole team, and it won’t come down to individuals."
Also available to Ancelotti is 21-year-old Castilla defender Alvaro Carrillo, who was called up to the Madrid bench for the Girona game.
Should Ferland Mendy move over to centre-back, it may give Fran Garcia an opportunity to reclaim the left-back spot that he lost against Girona.
Garcia started the club's first six games but was hooked midway through the 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid and then went unused against both Girona and Napoli.
"He played a lot at the beginning and it is true that he has lost a bit of prominence now," Ancelotti said of Garcia.
"It is good for him to go with the national team and it is deserved, because as a full-back he is very good."
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