Claude Makelele talks to a group of journalists from around the world ahead of the biggest domestic match in club football, El Clasico. He’s playing a little game. Makelele must stop them when they name a better player in his specific position.
Michael Essien? Silence. Casemiro? Silence. Moises Caicedo? Xabi Alonso? Sergio Busquets? Ryan Gravenberch? Rodri? N’Golo Kante? Silence. “I love all the players you mentioned,” he says at the end. “But I’m special.” It’s Makelele’s role for a reason.
Now 52, Makelele has defined the position like few before or since. With Real Madrid, he won LaLiga and the Champions League. When he left, helping Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles, that Galacticos team was never the same.
Real Madrid’s Claude Makelele clashes with Barcelona’s Patrick Kluivert in El Clasico
“I had the capacity to play offensively or defensively. I chose to play defensively and tactically because of the offensive, I didn’t have to go there because I had teammates who could attack. We had (Zinedine) Zidane, (Luis) Figo, Raul, Ronaldo, you understand?
“I didn’t have to go there because we had people there, you know? I focused on my position, I did my job defensively and that’s it. A player who plays in this position needs to work a lot, to run to get the ball for the offensive players.”
Barcelona’s Lamine Jamal will have to be stopped if Real Madrid are to win El Clasico
Perhaps unsurprisingly, seeing games full of creative talent, with Kylian Mbappe up against Lamine Jamal, Jude Bellingham against Marcus Rashford, Makelele believes the game will be won by preventing the stars from getting the ball.
“Barcelona has a platform, balance, plays the ball through midfield. This is dangerous for Madrid,” he explains. But there is a way to stop it. “The way Barcelona play, everything happens from the middle. The transitions happen from the middle.”
He adds: “If you wipe out the midfielder and make them run, I think Madrid will win because Paris (Saint Germain) did the same thing (earlier this month). Paris were smart. They pressed the middle and when Barcelona lost the ball, they moved quickly.
“Madrid have very good wings and forwards who can finish. Madrid need to focus on this capacity. Don’t give Barcelona easy possession because Pedro, with Fermina (Lopez), when they get to Lamina Jamal and the offensive players are so destructive.”
“I think Madrid need to understand that it is more important for them to block the midfield. It will be easier from there. That means Mbappe has to be good, Vinicius has to be good. But Madrid have a habit of the best players making the difference.”
Jude Bellingham is one of the big players that Real Madrid will count on
Chuameni provides security
However, a key role in Madrid will be played by Aurelien Chuameni, the player whom Makelele believes most resembles him on the pitch in this El Clasico. Makelele even recommended him to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and knows how difficult his job will be.
“In the beginning he helped the team by playing in different positions. On the right side, on the left side, sometimes behind the attackers, because he is a very complete player, he is very ambitious. But now I think, for me, he should stay in the middle.”
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior need Aurelien Chuameni to provide a platform
He laughs at the thought of everyone flying forward, pointing to that effect. “Winger, striker, midfielder, left-back, right-back. You only have a few players covering, providing security so his position is very important for Madrid,” he explains.
“He needs to understand when to play football, when to play possession, and when to attack. Because when he attacks, he has to understand if a teammate can take his place. Because if he is not there, he will be responsible for things like this. He has to understand when to play football, when to play possession, and when to attack. When he attacks, he needs to understand if a teammate can take his place. If he is not there, he will be responsible for things like this. He should he understands when to play football, when to play possession and when to attack. When attacking, he must understand if a teammate can take his place.
“He’s got to understand his role on the team and his role is safety. To play this position, you have to be a great leader. It’s leadership not with (the tape), but the way you play, the way your teammates see you, the way you correct deficiencies.”
Defensive space for Aureliano Chuameni’s action for Real Madrid in the Champions League
Makelele believes Xabi Alonso can help Chuameni fulfill his potential. “Xabi has played in this position, he knows exactly how to play. I think he will improve a lot this season. But the coach can only help so much. “You learn by playing there many times,” he adds.
“Game, game, game, game, game. I did it like this, watched the videos, saw this position. I listened to Mazzino a lot, because I played with him at Celta Vigo. I learned a lot from him. He made me understand this position. It’s amazing if you love it.”
And Claude Makelele apparently still loves the role of Makelele.