In a recent interview with Tuttosport (h/t Mundo Deportivo), former Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro shared his thoughts on the current landscape of football, including a particular focus on his former club and the Champions League.
Cannavaro expressed concern over the changes in the Champions League format, highlighting the challenges Real Madrid could face in the upcoming seasons.
While the club has been a dominant force in European football, with six Champions League victories in the last ten years, Cannavaro warned that this success may not continue in the same way.
“In their DNA is the Champions League, but with this new formula, who knows?”
He pointed out that there have been seasons in which Real Madrid did not even make it past the Round of 16. This could potentially be one of those years, as the new format adds more unpredictability and pressure to the tournament.
“Let’s say they have won six Champions League titles out of the last ten, which is crazy, but they’ve also had seasons in which they didn’t even get past the round of 16. Maybe the current one could be one of those,” he said.
Cannavaro’s take on Mbappe
The conversation also turned to Kylian Mbappe, with Cannavaro acknowledging that the French forward is having difficulties settling into the team.
Fabio Cannavaro gave two cents on Kylian Mbappe’s situation at Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
He made an important point by referencing other star players like David Beckham and Luis Figo, who also struggled at times after joining Real Madrid.
“He is finding it hard to adapt, but beware, people like Beckham and Figo also suffered,” he explained.
Cannavaro explained that the presence of multiple top-tier players in the squad often leads to challenges for the manager, as it can disrupt the balance of the team.
“Madrid is like that: they put together stellar players and then it’s the coach’s problem.”
Specifically, Mbappe’s tendency to drop deeper to collect the ball, rather than staying in a central forward role, has impacted the dynamics of the team.
This not only takes away space from other players, such as Jude Bellingham, but it also hinders the natural flow of the team’s play.
“It is clear that Mbappe does not find a position and the fact that he likes to go for the ball, because he is not a pure centre forward.”
Cannavaro further highlighted that Bellingham, who was widely considered a Ballon d’Or contender last year, has struggled this season as a result of these adjustments.
“He takes space away from Bellingham, one who a year ago could win the Ballon d’Or and in this one suffers,” he said
The positioning and tactical changes have made it harder for Bellingham to replicate his previous form, and this imbalance has affected Real Madrid’s overall performance.