Jesé's Injury A Big Blow to Ancelotti's Rotation

Jesé Rodríguez was a big weapon off the bench. Considering Ángel Di María's new role in the midfield, Big Flow was Ancelotti's 12th man if the Italian coach wanted some more firepower. Now, after Jesé tore his right ACL during Real's 3-1 win against Schalke 04, Ancelotti will have to trust midfielder Isco Alarcón and struggling striker Álvaro Morata if Real Madrid need a spark off the bench. Jesé will not be available until the 2014-2015 season.

Morata is a fine player if he has a secondary role. But he will now be Ancelotti's main substitution if Benzema, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo struggle offensively. Furthermore, if either one of those three players have to miss a game, Morata will likely start unless Ancelotti decides to play Isco as a false 9 or in either wing. Carletto could also move Di María upfront and start Illarramendi in the midfield, but that would change a lot Real Madrid's current gameplan.

One way or another, the fact is Jesé's injury has changed Real's roster a lot. Los blancos will be playing two games a week for quite some time now after they secured their ticket to the Champions League Quarterfinals, and Gareth Bale has proved to be a bit injury-prone himself.

It seems that striker Álvaro Morata will have a big chance to show that he's what everybody expected him to be after the won the U21 Eurocup Golden Boot. Morata is surely lacking some confidence now, but Real Madrid will need him sooner rather than later in what will be a very busy schedule for the remainder two months of the 2013-2014. His minutes will increase, he will get some starts and he will need to deliver if he wants to stay with Real Madrid for the near future.

Real Madrid's title hopes depend on it.