Unfortunately Luka Modric has gotten injured in an international friendly (damn you friendly games!), it is the perfect time for Sami Khedira and Illarramendi to prove themselves. But can they do it?
Both players aren't really fan favorite, nor are they known for their excellent offensive skillset. Sami Khedira was an important force in Jose Mourinho's team, but ever since Carlo Ancelotti took over it is clear that Khedira's role has been minimalized, from regular starter he became a substitute player this season. Also, as a Real Madrid I can't say that I am delighted to see him in a Madrid shirt. He does not have any important skills, with his big body he is not really great in recovering the ball, nor is he a good tackler. And I don't even need to begin about his average offensive skillset. Although I must say that he isn't bad in a 3-mans midfield. Carlo Ancelotti played him in a 4-3-3, with Xabi-Modric-Khedira, at the beginning of last season and quite frankly, he was pretty good. But with the arrival of Toni Kroos and Isco's new position, 2 players who are younger and offensively superior than Sami Khedira, it is safe to conclude that he does not have a future at Real Madrid.
Then there is the Illarramendi problem. Bought over from Sociedad for 40 million euros, the expectations for the former-Sociedad player were pretty high. Some were even calling him the heir of Xabi Alonso, considering they are both Spanish, defensive midfielders and played at a Basque club that is not very odd. Yet ever since he came we have not seen any progression or reason why he should be in the starting line-up of Real Madrid. His only good games were against weak teams (Rayo, Granada), while he was utterly terrible in the Dortmund away game of last season (2-0 L). He is not a bad tackler and can recover the ball very good, but you gotta do more than that if you want to be regular starter at Real Madrid. Offensively, he offers pretty much nothing. Or at least, we have seen nothing that shows that he can actually offer something offensive, Carlo Ancelotti has played him next to Xabi Alonso as a box-to-box a few times but that didn't work around. Illarramendi is - unlike Khedira - a player with potential, so in the future this might change but for now he is not really the player that can easily replace Luka Modric (then again: who can?).
James is too offensive, Isco while not playing bad at all in a deeper role, doesn't have the discipline to play in Modric's position. Toni Kroos seems to be the only player that can replace Modric, but who will replace him?
While it's not a gigantous problem, the absence of Luka Modric will force Carlo Ancelotti to make some drastic changes in Real Madrid's line-up.
