Casemiro along with Ramos & Varane : Strong defensive Pillars behind Zidane's success

Be it any UCL knockout game or UCL final or recently played Spanish super cup final, Casemiro along with Ramos & Varane, are the most important factors behind winning these games for Zidane's Real Madrid. Over the last decade, Real Madrid had the best attacking players in the world like 5 time Ballon D'or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Modric along with midfielder, etc. But Real's real strength lies in their robust & copper-bottomed defence. As legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson quoted, “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. Real Madrid's domination in Uefa Champions League over the years is the evidence of it. The integral part of Real's defense is composed of the Brazilian midfielder, famously known as "The Tank" aka Casemiro, backed up by World Cup winner, "The Silent Giant" - Raphael Varane alongside arguably the best defenders in the world, skipper Sergio Ramos - "The Gladiator", who is also a World Cup gold medalist & 2 times Euro champion. These three have been consistent performers in Zidane's squad & helped the team to win every crucial game in UCL knockout stages for 3 years in a row.

Casemiro, Ramos & Varane

Casemiro arrived at Real Madrid from Sao Paulo in 2013 but it wasn’t until Zinedine Zidane took control of the reigns that he got much of a look in. He has been the backbone of Real Madrid in their recent success. Known for his ball playing ability, tactical knowledge of the game, finding key passes and rarely giving the ball away, he is the best player in that position in since 2015–16 when Real Madrid won the Champions League first time under Zidane. Madrid have been known for their attacking style and marauding fullbacks for some time and the introduction of Casemiro has given Real a balance between attack and defence, which allows the wing-backs to bomb on. Talking about wing-backs, one of the best wing-backs in the world, Marcelo, has also been a key player in Real Madrid team over the years. He rejoices playing with his Brazilian teammate a lot. Marcelo on his on the pitch partnership with Casemiro: “Casemiro tells me 'go ahead, Marcelo. We’ll worry about the other stuff later.' Ahhhh, Casimiro. He saved my life. I might play until I’m 45 with this guy by my side." No doubt this partnership gives Marcelo a freedom to play in attacking position without worrying about the defensive duties, as he knows his friend has got his back.

Casemiro - The Tank ● Defensive Skills Beast Mode

There is simply no better defender than Sergio Ramos on a night when Real Madrid have a big game and need to deliver. The Spaniard is always up there putting out his best performance to ensure that his team don’t lose. And more often than not, he succeeds. As a young player, while his talent shone through, Sergio Ramos was often impetuous and picked up an extraordinary number of cards for overstepping the mark. When not getting himself into trouble, Ramos is exceptional. He is strong and fast, thrives in one-on-one battles with opponents and, if needed, can be a threat in attacking areas. He is a defender who has the ability to bring the ball out of defence, as well as being ruthless in his own penalty area. He has also shown his ability to come up with some crucial goals in the past. He has scored in two Champions League finals, and currently has four European crowns to his name. He has also won LaLiga on four occasions, while at international level, has won the World Cup, and two European Championships. A lot of defenders have come and gone in the meantime, but Ramos stood the test of time and not only established himself as the captain of the most successful club in the world but also one of the best centre-backs in Europe of this era.

This Is Sergio Ramos - The Gladiator

The third important key in this defense is very confident player with 4 UCL & World Cup in his last 6 years. Varane is the complete central defender. He reads the game expertly and possesses the recovery speed to cover for team-mates’ mistakes, while he’s adept at stepping into midfield with the ball and setting his side on the attack. His pace, heading, tackling ability and so many things makes him one of the best. Varane is also a very capable defender in the air and single-handedly gives Real Madrid an upgrade when defending set pieces when he is on the pitch. He is impossible to beat in the air and has the speed and anticipation to catch up with any attacker. Varane is like a super computer, quickly calculating the fastest angle to a winger before making a smart play.

Raphael Varane The Silent Giant

Whereas Ramos is the more aggressive defender, Varane is the calm one who consistently cuts out danger. Ramos & Casemiro have also scored crucial goals for Real Madrid. Ramos' 93rd minute breathtaking equalizer against Atletico Madrid in UCL 2014 final & Casemiro's long-range strike that gave Madrid the lead against Juventus in the UCL 2017 final are just few examples as those goals helped Real to win both of those Champions Leagues Trophies.

Ramos & Varane Fantastic Duo

After Zidane stepped down as Real Madrid manager, the Spanish Giants haven't had the best times under Julen Lopetegui & Santiago Solari. Both the managers struggled to keep a winning streak & Real were also knocked out of Champions League by Ajax earlier in Round of 16. If Zidane is to get Madrid back to their best during the upcoming campaign then Casemiro’s inclusion along with Ramos' & Varane's defence, will be vital.

#Casemiro #Ramos #Varane #Zidane