Ancelotti’s Costly Mistake: Raúl Asencio Deserves a Starting Spot
Ancelotti’s Costly Mistake: Raúl Asencio Deserves a Starting Spotby Our teamMarch 2, 2025 Real Madrid’s recent defeat against Real Betis has sparked frustration among fans, with many pointing to Carlo Ancelotti’s questionable squad decisions—specifically, the continued absence of Raúl Asencio from the starting lineup.Asencio’s Case for a Starting Role• Instant Impact: Despite being promoted from Castilla just months ago, the 22-year-old center-back has seamlessly adapted to first-team football.• Defensive Stability: Madrid has lost every game he hasn’t started in recently, a stat that highlights his growing importance.• Comparison to Nacho: Many see him as Madrid’s next defensive leader, much like Nacho Fernández.Ancelotti’s HesitationDespite Asencio’s impressive performances, Ancelotti appears reluctant to make him a permanent starter, possibly due to his lack of top-flight experience. Instead, the Italian coach has relied on Rüdiger, Alaba, and Tchouaméni (as a makeshift CB), leaving Asencio on the bench.
