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Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is always adamant in his confidence in all his players, but Marca’s analysis points to how the Frenchman has shown his clear preference for some players over others.
After 10 games this season, five players have participated in every game: Thibaut Courtois, Karim Benzema, Casemiro, Fede Valverde and Luka Modric, although the Croatian is only eighth in the number of minutes played and third in the list of central midfielders. .
There are three defenders who have played as long as they have been available and all are clearly crucial to Zidane’s project; captain Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Ferland Mendy, while all the right backs have been injured, in particular Dani Carvajal, Álvaro Odriozola and Nacho Fernández.
Marco Asensio is returning to the first team, playing eight games and growing prominence, while an Eden Hazard in top form is also likely to be a regular starter for Los Blancos and so is Martin Odegaard.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes are frequently played in the absence of others, but are generally substituted on or off and play a disproportionately high number of games per minute.
Of those who are firmly peripheral figures, Isco is suffering the worst moment of his career at Madrid while Marcelo has lagged behind Mendy in left-back preference.
Luka Jovic and Mariano Díaz continue to fight for a notable participation, while the same goes for defender Eder Militao.
Images via Brand
