Player Focus: Madrid to Stick with Ramos Midfield Experiment Against Juventus

There were gasps from Real Madrid fans and pundits when defender Sergio Ramos was named in midfield for last month’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Atletico Madrid. Now the experiment looks likely to be continued throughout a decisive phase of the season by Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Although comfortable at both centre-back and right-back, Ramos had only previously played once in central midfield for Madrid during recent seasons. That did not go well - Ancelotti removed him early in the second half with the team on the way to a 2-1 defeat at the Camp Nou last season, and later admitted it had been a mistake.

This time the ploy lasted the full game against Atletico, and Madrid eeked out a 1-0 win to qualify for the last four. In a further surprise, Toni Kroos stayed as the deeper ‘pivote’ [think Sergio Busquets or Xabi Alonso], with Ramos playing to his right as an ‘interior’ [Luka Modric, Xavi Hernandez] in a typical Spanish 4-3-3 system. The vastly experienced 29-year old did not look completely out of place in what was a very scrappy affair, nor did he have a huge impact on the game in terms of statistics.

Against an Atletico team which sat very deep, Ramos made 71 passes, at an 83% completion rate. He played zero through balls and made one key pass, although completing 12 of 15 long passes. On the rare occasions Atletico had possession, he made two tackles and one interception. This was enough for a pretty good 7.74 overall rating from WhoScored, with his biggest contribution being the five aerial duels he won.

Questioned about his selection directly after that game, Ancelotti said he had wanted to deal with Diego Simeone’s side’s physical strength and ability in the air.

“We wanted to avoid problems on the counter, and to have concentration at dead-balls,” the Italian coach said. “Because with Ramos, Pepe and Varane we are more comfortable at corners, or throw-ins. Sergio has quality to play in this position, he sacrificed himself for the team. He did it very well.”

It seemed to have been just a one-off move based around a specific set of requirements. But Ancelotti repeated the idea in last Saturday’s must-win La Liga game at Sevilla. Unai Emery’s side also have their fair share of big, physical players, but such a defensive selection in a must-win game was not welcomed by all Madrid watchers. AS’ preview on Saturday morning said playing Ramos in midfield left the ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over Ancelotti’s head, considering club president Florentino Perez’s preference for creative midfielders and attacking ‘galacticos’.

Against Sevilla’s more mobile midfield, Ramos appeared less comfortable in central areas. Direct opponents Jose Antonio Reyes and Ever Banega enjoyed a huge amount of space, racking up four dribbles each. Sevilla actually had more shots [18-14], and more corners [8-1], but a mix of mental resilience, good fortune and razor-sharp finishing from Cristiano Ronaldo saw Madrid win 3-2 and keep on Barcelona’s heels in the domestic title race.

Ramos’ personal stats against his former side were not so good. He tried 52 passes, at an 84.6% completion rate. On the ball, he played zero through balls or key passes, and was accurate with three of six attempted long passes. Off the ball, he made two tackles and zero interceptions. He also gave away a penalty with a challenge he himself later admitted was foolish. This added up to a 6.38 rating, his third lowest of the entire season.

You could say his biggest positive contribution was an accidental aerial clash with Grzegorz Krychowiak - given Ronaldo scored twice while the Sevilla midfielder was off the pitch receiving medical attention. However, Ramos' manager suggested afterwards in the Sanchez Pizjuan press room that he was happy with his overall performance.

“Sergio is not used to playing in this position, but he has so much experience, personality and quality that he can play anywhere,” Ancelotti said. “We must highlight what he does for the team. He is always willing to do what the team needs.”

It seems now very likely that what the coach thinks the team needs for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Juventus is for Ramos to again play in midfield. It seems clear that circumstances are a big factor in Ancelotti’s thinking. Last autumn, Madrid were playing beautiful possession football, with Modric, Kroos, James Rodriguez, Isco and Karim Benzema all performingly superbly. Injuries, and wear and tear, mean that of all of these only James is currently close to his artistic best. Other midfield options of Asier Illarramendi, Sami Khedira and Lucas Silva are, for various understandable reasons, not being considered as options to start the biggest games.

Another argument in favour of sticking with the current ploy, something which does not immediately appear in his own statistics, is that Ramos' extra covering presence in central areas allows more creative teammates to be more influential. Kroos, for example, managed four shots at goal against Sevilla, up from a season average of less than one per game.

The man himself is happy to continue learning the position, as he told reporters after Saturday’s win at Sevilla.

“I just focus on receiving instructions and trying to play my best,” Ramos said. “Bit by bit I am feeling more comfortable. For me the most important thing is to play well, regardless of the position.”

If Juve sit back and allow Madrid lots of possession on Tuesday night, it is unlikely that Ramos will carve open a well organised defence with his passing. But his physicality and battling qualities will likely be useful against the wily Italian side - and it would be no surprise to see him looking to disrupt bianconeri deep lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo’s influence on proceedings.

The jury remains out on Ancelotti’s decision - and it is likely that Florentino’s sword has not been completely put-away yet. There remains something dissonant about the self-professed richest club in the world being apparently forced into such stop-gap measures. But, as ever at Madrid, it will be results, more than anything else, which matter in the end.

Should Ancelotti move Ramos back into the defence or stick with the Spaniard in midfield against Juve? Let us know in the comments below