Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti does not seem the type to set himself a New Year's resolution for the next twelve months, knowing that planning too far ahead for the Santiago Bernabéu could be foolhardy. However, he has set himself a first goal of the year.
Los Blancos have a packed schedule in January, with La Liga, the Champions League, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup all on the line. However, Relevo says one of his focuses is getting Ferland Mendy back to his best. The Frenchman was not well, had several injuries and was occasionally on the bench behind Fran Garcia. They also note that in the Champions League the percentage of duels won has fallen by 15.5% compared to last year, while he also wins the ball back 0.8 fewer times per match.
Mendy was a stalwart of Ancelotti last year and the Italian has been his biggest advocate at Real Madrid in recent years, earning him an extension until 2028. To his own credit, with Dani Carvajal out of action on the other side of the defence, Mendy appears to have a much more direct route to a solid defense than Garcia, and with an attacking line-up in front of him, Mendy's defensive instincts could be crucial.
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