Forced out of position yet thriving – How Real Madrid ace is defying the odds | OneFootball

Aurelien Tchouameni silenced his critics with a standout performance as Real Madrid secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.

With Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba sidelined due to injuries, Tchouameni was once again forced to play as a central defender alongside Raul Asensio.

Despite the challenges, he handled the responsibility with composure and played a key role in Madrid’s defensive setup.

The French midfielder, who does not like playing as a defender, has often been under scrutiny from Real Madrid supporters for his inconsistent displays, but against Manchester City, he stepped up to justify Carlo Ancelotti’s faith in him.

His defensive contributions were significant, ranking as the third-best Real Madrid outfield player in ball recoveries with four, trailing only Jude Bellingham (7) and Eduardo Camavinga (5).

Looking at his numbers

Beyond his defensive work, Tchouameni was also instrumental in helping Madrid play out from the back against City’s relentless high press.

Aurelien Tchouameni put on a commendable display against Manchester City. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

His passing accuracy was exceptional, completing 43 out of 45 passes with a 95% success rate. More impressively, he maintained possession without losing the ball even once throughout the match.

One of the biggest challenges for Tchouameni was playing under the risk of suspension. A yellow card would have ruled him out of the return leg, but he displayed discipline and composure, avoiding any unnecessary fouls while ensuring he was never dribbled past.

He also won both of his ground duels and made three vital clearances inside the penalty area.

Containing Haaland

A key part of his task was containing Erling Haaland, working in tandem with Asensio to limit the Norwegian’s impact.

Although Haaland managed to score twice—one from a defensive lapse and the other from the penalty spot following Dani Ceballos’ foul on Phil Foden—Tchouameni’s overall defensive contribution was commendable.

Real Madrid left the Etihad with a hard-fought victory that further solidified their confidence in the competition. Ancelotti made sure to highlight Tchouameni’s performance, recognising the Frenchman’s ability to step up when it mattered most.