4 Areas for Real Madrid's Isco to Improve in 2015-16 Season

From the bench to universal acclaim and then back to the bench: The 2014-15 season was an up-and-down affair for Real Madrid's Isco. 

Marca called it "Isco's tipsy-topsy season," one that featured everything from roaring chants of "Isco, Isco, Isco" at the Santiago Bernabeu to criticism of a playing style that some perceived as selfish and damaging to the fluency of Carlo Ancelotti's system. 

But a change of manager is bringing significant change to Madrid, and we've already explained how an altered dynamic under Rafa Benitez could possibly aid Isco in 2015-16. 

So what adjustments does the young Spaniard need to make himself? Across the following slides we take a look. 

Releasing the Ball Faster

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

When Marca made the remark late last season that Carlo Ancelotti and Isco were "at loggerheads," the issue at the core of the perceived dispute was the Spaniard's playing style: 

"In these talks, the former PSG, Chelsea and Milan supremo tried to impress on Isco the importance of releasing the ball quicker and not running with it as much, something that goes counter to the player's instincts."

The Spaniard is a born ball-carrier, a player of skips, sidesteps, dances and weaves whose close control can be dazzling. However, the Andalusian's natural game at times blunted the effectiveness of Real Madrid's front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, slowing the team's ball movement and robbing fluency and space from Los Blancos' attacking moves. 

Frankly, it wasn't entirely Isco's fault, given that he'd been charged with the task of replacing the injured Luka Modric, a midfielder of an entirely different essence to the former Malaga star and someone who exerted an extreme influence on Ancelotti's Madrid. 

But for Isco to take the next step in his development, he does need to show an ability to adapt, to rein in his dribbling game and recognise there's often a need to release the ball considerably quicker when you have an XI defined by its front three. 

Physical Strength

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Though technically outstanding and fleet of foot, Isco is never going to be a physically imposing figure in midfield for Real Madrid. At just 176 centimetres and 74 kilograms, the Spaniard is very much representative of his country's archetypal midfielder. 

But that doesn't mean the 23-year-old can't add more physical strength to his game—something that's easier to achieve while still on the right side of 25. 

More strength, of course, would help Isco counter the physical midfields that disturbed Real Madrid in 2014-15, namely those of Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Juventus. By clattering into the likes of Isco, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, those outfits seriously interrupted Real's flow, and were able to launch counter-attacks by pushing those men off the ball and surging into the spaces behind. 

Naturally, Isco, no matter how hard he works, will never turn himself into Paul Pogba or Yaya Toure, but the more time he spends in the weight room, the better. 

Left-Foot Skills

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Isco's right foot is dynamite. Not only does the ball stick to it like he has Araldite on his toes, the Spaniard's right boot can produce delightfully weighted passes and spectacular, curling strikes, too.

Yet, his masterful right side might also be a weakness: It's so good you know he's going that way nearly every time.  

In 2014-15, that wasn't so much of a problem, given that he was typically deployed on the left side of a midfield three in Carlo Ancelotti's 4-3-3, meaning he was consistently able to cut inside and penetrate defences with his preferred right foot. 

But in 2015-16, most expect Rafa Benitez to utilise his characteristic 4-2-3-1, which will likely see Isco's playing time split between the No. 10 role and the wide attacking berths, placing a premium on a capacity to play with both feet. 

Developing an Ability to Play out Wide

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

As mentioned in the previous slide, Rafa Benitez's expected use of the 4-2-3-1 system next season is going to force through a number of major positional changes for Real Madrid players. 

The roles of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are still unclear, and all three could spend time up front, even if Ronaldo and Bale both covet the left-sided role. 

It means playing time will likely present itself to Isco in the No. 10 position or out on the right, and given that he's competing with James Rodriguez—and, at times, perhaps even Benzema—for the central role, he might be forced to settle for minutes out wide. 

As such, the young playmaker will need to show a level of versatility to win consistent playing time, displaying a capacity to play out wide, maintain width and stretch defences at various junctures.