Ancelotti, Vini salute Belligham as Tchouamén continues to rise and rise

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise following another virtuoso Real Madrid performance from Jude Bellingham.

The England star has immediately hit the ground running on his arrival in the Spanish capital with the notoriously difficult-to-please Los Blancos fans delighted with their new man in midfield.

Bellingham brought his La Liga goal streak up to eight from eight games, in the 4-0 weekend win over Osasuna, plus two goals in two in the Champions League.

Ancelotti has been a huge fan of Bellingham since his transfer move to Spain with the veteran Italian coach ready to build his midfield around the 20-year-old.

Ancelotti was asked about Bellingham's continuing excellent form after the Osasuna victory and he admitted he continues to be surprised by his star man.

“He’s very good and has adapted very well. We as a club, and the fans, are lucky to have signed such a spectacular player. His maturity is remarkable, he makes us forget that he is only 20.”

And Vinicius Junior said Bellingham was born to play for Real Madrid.

"He was born to play for Real Madrid, to mark an era at the biggest club in the world," Vinicius told Real Madrid TV after the game.

"Let's hope [our connection] lasts for many years, that we play here together for a long time.

"I'm delighted to play with Jude, one of the best players right now, at his age. We're all happy and the fans are enjoying it."

Tchouaméni’s rise and rise

Meanwhile, Real Madrid fans can’t believe Aurélien Tchouaméni’s performance at the central back.

Madrid came into Saturday’s match against Osasuna in La Liga with plenty of question marks about who would start, given the many injuries they’ve suffered in defense.

Ancelotti thus raised eyebrows – including his own – when the Madrid lineup was announced with star midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni at left back and center back, respectively.

Camavinga at left back is nothing new, and the Frenchman was recently brilliant in that position against Girona. However, we had never seen Tchouaméni in central defense, with Carletto feeling forced in that direction after injuries to Éder Militão (out for the season) and David Alaba.

The result? Real Madrid dominated Osasuna 4-0 in what was arguably their best performance of the season thus far.

And Tchouaméni? Well, let’s just say, Madridistas were ecstatic with his individual display.

Every top club needs to have a center-back who can play from deep, and, disappointingly, Real Madrid haven’t quite gotten that from David Alaba this season, especially compared to what he did at Bayern under Hansi Flick.

Tchouaméni is a great passing midfielder, so having him playing it out of the back in central defense? That opened up so much for the players in front of him. The four goals can’t be a coincidence.

Invoking the name of Éder Militão is one thing. He is already arguably the best center back in the world. But invoking the name of the arguable GOAT center back, Sergio Ramos?

That tells you the respect Aurélien Tchouaméni is already getting from Madridistas without even being done with a second full season.

Those dagger passes change games and keep defenses honest. In an instant, a “quarterback” at center back can put you up 1-0. Remember what Bayern had with peak Mats Hummels and Jérôme Boateng? Pep Guardiola was cooking.

It may seem unfair, but that’s what happens when you invest in elite talent and develop those players. Watch them shine. Don’t waste your time with players who aren’t going to be elite if you are Real Madrid.

Pay up for Bellingham and Tchouaméni, then watch them ball. If you can get bargains like Camavinga and Fede Valverde, then that’s even better.

Real Madrid plays to win no matter what, and the players accept the challenge of taking on unfamiliar positions.

A legend is born?

That can’t be a coincidence either, right? We have to talk about Tchouaméni being as important to Real Madrid as Vinícius Jr., Jude Bellingham, or anyone else.

Sometimes, defending is about Pep Guardiola's

method of controlling possession, controlling space, controlling the opponent, and realizing that if you have the ball in productive possession, they cannot hurt you.

Real Madrid don’t often do that and prefers the opposite of controlling space out of possession before countering, but sometimes, the flexible approach pays dividends. It did against Osasuna.