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Carlo Ancelotti with a clear statement. Isco Alarcón is going to replace Luka Modric in Real Madrid's midfield, according to what Ancelotti himself said in Radio Nacional España. While there are certainly some questions over Isco's defensive performance in Real's system, he's probably the most natural Modric-replacement on this roster.
With his creativity and playmaking skills, Isco can certainly fill Modric's shoes up if he shows defensive commitment. That is one aspect of Modric's game that tends to be overlooked, but the Croatian certainly formed a good defensive duo alongside Toni Kroos, who isn't known for his defensive attributes either.
One way or another, Real Madrid's upcoming schedule should be manageable enough for the Kroos-Isco partnership to gel. Considering how well Real's attackers have been playing lately, it will all come down to whether Ancelotti's defenders will be able to keep clean sheets week in and week out. And Isco might need to play a big part there.
