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Real Madrid close their tour of the United States in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the imposing Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and MLS’s Charlotte FC, a modest venue that nevertheless attracts one of the largest average attendances for its games, second only to Atlanta United, proof that the southern city has a native passion for soccer that should be evident tonight. The stadium, with almost 75,000 seats, will not be full, but it will not be far from doing so.
It will be an opportunity to see Vinicius and Rodrygo together from the start, as Ancelotti anticipated when he arrived in Charlotte; the coach used an answer he used two years ago, before the European Super Cup in Helsinki, to explain what eleven he imagines for Warsaw against Atalanta: “I think the Super Cup should be played by those who have won the Champions League, although we are missing two, Nacho and Kroos…”. The Italian will start tonight against Chelsea with the best he has, in a sort of dress rehearsal despite the notable absences. In attack, Vini and Rodry seem confirmed, and the doubt is on the striker, although Endrick has more chances, who is still looking for his first goal and to finish generating hopeful sensations in his first steps with Real Madrid.
Against Milan, he was seen to have little intentions in a couple of passes with which he showed that he is not just about scoring, but he fell short; against Barça he looked a little more, he came close to scoring from the edge of the box and hinted at his powerful start, although he also failed to finish. Against Chelsea he will enjoy the best possible ecosystem, surrounded by his two friends from the national team, a trident to the rhythm of samba waiting for Mbappé to appear in the equation, straight to the number nine position. There is the option that Brahim will take the place on the right wing, with Rodrygo on the left and with Vinicius up front, a kind of test for this season in which everything indicates that he will live permanently swapping with Mbappé, both eager to start on the left, the side where they are happiest and their overflows come out easier.
Kepa is a Chelsea player, but he is waiting for Madrid
But Carletto made it clear that Endrick’s place is up front and that he wants to see him there more: “He’s a centre forward, sometimes he can play as an attacking midfielder, but his position on the pitch is quite clear. He’s not like Bellingham or Rodrygo…” Endrick just needs to put a pause on the anxiety that has been noticed in his first appearances with Madrid. He needs to listen to Courtois’ advice: “He has to be a little calmer. He’s a little nervous. But he’s going to get better and better, he’s very strong on his feet. I’ve seen him shoot very hard…”
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And in front of them will be a Chelsea team that is not getting good results this pre-season either (it has won only one of the four games it has played, against América de México) and that has conceded four goals from Guardiola’s City. Kepa, a former Real Madrid player who could return to the dressing room, is not in the squad: the Basque will leave London and, aware that Lunin’s situation is not at all clear, he hopes to return to be Courtois’ squire. The Ukrainian has not made a move yet, but Ancelotti is clear: against Barça, all the minutes were for Thibaut.
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2024-08-06 04:28:07
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