A gap appeared to have formed between the first team and its academy, but Raúl Asencio's first two successful games under Ancelotti may have opened the youngsters' path to the professional squad.
Raúl Asencio has become a reason for hope for the Fábrica. With the avalanche of injuries that has swept through Real Madrid, questions have arisen about the options available to the club to overcome them. If the management looked outside the club to strengthen itself in the market, in La Fábrica it was expected that young people would be employed.
However, Dani Carvajal's heavy injury was compensated internally with Lucas Vázquez and Federico Valverde, without really resorting to the academy. We will simply note the rise of Jesús Fortea with the pros, in order to make up the numbers in training.
The last word by Raúl Asencio
However, another opportunity, still very unfortunate, will present itself to a young person. Against CA Osasuna, Carlo Ancelotti brings up Raúl Asencio from Castilla with the aim of making his bench deeper.
This is the indirect consequence of the injury to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who, although a starter in midfield, was considered a rotation option in central defense. Without the Frenchman, the Italian only found himself with his two starters, Rüdiger and Militão, and the very unreassuring Jesús Vallejo on the bench.
Raúl Asencio thus had his place on the bench, and fate would have it that the Brazilian center was seriously injured, thus giving up his place in the 30th minute to the young 21-year-old Spaniard. Raúl Asencio was immediately reassuring while Carlo Ancelotti was forced by external elements to give him a chance. Then it was the player and his talent who did the rest. He did it again against CD Leganés and now appears to be a very serious option to support Antonio Rüdiger while waiting for the injured to return.
It's a small success for the academy, which until then had difficulty getting players into the first team. It should also be noted that the players who joined the pros had a string of injuries, whether Jacobo Ramón or Joan Martínez. Blame it on bad luck. However, the Italian coach could be less cautious about the Canteranos after this first success. Raúl Asencio will obviously have to pass the test by fire as a starter at Anfield, but he will not be alone since Gonzalo García has also been called up.
The 19-year-old striker is appreciated by the technical team who see in him a certain maturity, an element which worked in Raúl Asencio's favor. For his part, Jesús Fortea remains in Madrid and has still not seen a single match sheet.
The Factory in attention
This first wave of growth is an encouraging sign for the academy. However, the situation remains complex. Carlo Ancelotti was forced to make these adaptations due to a structural deficit in the first team linked to injuries. The sports project proposed to young people is not clear and still needs to be clarified.
In attack, young people bought to be with the first team, such as Endrick or Arda Güler, are still waiting to have real playing time. The midfield is also clogged with experienced players. Thus, only the very weakened defense sector seems to leave an opening for young people.
Many young people from La Fábrica are still waiting for a chance. According to Relevo, this is the case of Chema Andrés (2005), midfielder with Spain U19. Striker Gonzalo García (2004), although called up against Liverpool, could legitimately expect to have his chance.
In defense, there are also many names, such as Jesús Fortea (2007) who serves as a training partner for the pros or the pairing of Jacobo Ramón (2005) and Joan Martínez (2007) in central defense who is slowed down by injuries , notably the second who became the crusader. It must also be admitted that Raúl Asencio has surely already taken the canterano ticket in the central hinge. Among the injured, there is also the very talented attacking midfielder César Palacios (2004) who also injured his cruciate ligaments this summer.
Making your way into the first team is a difficult thing in Madrid. However, this insane 72-game season, which has been so criticized by the players, and in particular Vinicius Jr recently, could work in the favor of the young people. The Madrid organizations will not be able to hold on and it would possibly be in everyone's interest to give a little responsibility to the young people in the academy. In any case, this is what the youth entourage defends, especially since Real Madrid's last two matches have proven that there is quality in La Fábrica.
François Simonin.
