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Lamine Yamal will not pose a threat to Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey if Carlo Ancelotti has his way
With the Copa del Rey final looming, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is cooking up a defensive blueprint to deal with Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal.
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At the heart of that plan? A returning Ferland Mendy, whom Ancelotti hopes will be the antidote to Yamal’s electric threat on the wing.
Ancelotti hoping for Mendy masterclass
Ancelotti isn’t taking any chances when it comes to one of Europe’s most dangerous young attackers. Lamine Yamal has been a nightmare for defenders all season long, racking up a jaw-dropping 14 goals and 22 assists across all competitions.
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And against Real Madrid in particular, he’s proven to be a consistent thorn, having scored in both of their previous clashes this season. But Ancelotti has a secret weapon up his sleeve: Ferland Mendy.
Although Mendy has been sidelined for the past six weeks with injury, the Frenchman returned to training on Tuesday, and Ancelotti is reportedly optimistic about his availability for the final.
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He sees Mendy as one of the only defenders able to match Yamal stride for stride, and interestingly, even Yamal himself has tipped his hat to Mendy in the past, calling him one of the toughest defenders he's ever faced.
If Mendy is fit, he’ll almost certainly start. If not, Fran Garcia will be tasked with the daunting mission of shutting down the Blaugrana’s brightest star.
Injury chaos and tactical chess before the final showdown
While Mendy’s potential return is a huge boost, Real Madrid’s preparations aren’t exactly smooth sailing. Ancelotti is now grappling with a fresh injury headache as Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba have both picked up new knocks.
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The result of the final is likely to impact Ancelotti’s future at the club, with rumours circling about the Italian’s potential exit if Real Madrid lose to Barcelona for the third time this season.
Following defeat in the Champions League quarterfinal against Arsenal, Ancelotti is aware that he is currently walking a tightrope with Florentino Perez.
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And in a final where momentum can swing in an instant, the Italian gaffer knows that stopping Yamal could be the difference between lifting the trophy or watching it slip away in the blink of an eye.
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