Why Lucas Vazquez is player to be brought off bench most by Zidane

The fact only 11 players can play at once has been a problem for Lucas Vazquez in the past, but not now. 

Injuries to Dani Carvajal, who has now recovered, and Alvaro Odriozola have allowed the Galician to start six games in a row for the first team in a very lon time. He is the Real Madrid player to have come on most from the bench since Zinedine Zidane took over (68). 

Of the 129 games Vazquez has played under the Frenchman, he has started just 61 times. It had been 55 up until the most recent 'El Clasico' meeting. The footballer earned the backing of 'Zizou' and he started the 1-1 draw with Villarreal and the 0-2 win at Inter.

So far this season, Lucas Vazquez has played nine games for Real Madrid, starting seven of them, in other words, he has started 77.78% of games he has played in. That is his highest percentage since returning to Real in 2015. That is much better than the 43.48% in 2019-20, 61.70% in 2018-19, just 18.87% in 2017-18, 40% in 2016-17 and 39.39% in 2015-16. 

These numbers and comments from Zidane confirm why the coach has faith in Lucas Vazquez: "He always goes out and gives it his all on the pitch. I've always rated him. I've always rated how Lucas Vazquez is on the pitch. He is having the opportunity to show what he's capable of. He's an academy player and Madrid have him in their hearts. I'm happy for him and the team."