‘If you are a defender…’ – The belief in the Real Madrid youth camp about first-team push | OneFootball

It is no secret that Real Madrid are struggling this season due to the lack of depth in the first-team. The team is stretched due to a number of injuries throughout the campaign.

But even at a time when the team is scrambling to find first-team players, Carlo Ancelotti has refused to hand opportunities to La Fabrica talents.

This is especially relevant given how Barcelona have succeeded by backing La Masia talents in recent years. Real Madrid, too, have produced many great talents, but very few have seen any sort of first-team action, of late.

What Real Madrid youth players think

In the midst of such an environment, one might forgive Real Madrid youth players to feel alienated.

In fact, a report from MARCA suggests there is a ongoing message from the youth players: “If you are a defender, you have a better chance of reaching the first team.”

While no one is actually parading around with that message to the first-team, it appears there is a growing feeling of alienation around the La Fabrica camp.

Youth players believe that midfielders or attackers will find it almost impossible to get into the first-team. One can only make a breakthrough if he is a defender and that is because Real Madrid have razor thin depth in the defensive unit.

Raul Asencio, to that end, is an excellent case in point. The young prodigy broke into the scene following the injury of Eder Militao and has since made a noticable impact.

But even Asencio is finding it difficult to gain regular game-time, which once again highlights the difficult environment that is being fostered at Real Madrid, at least as far as the youth players are concerned.