Real Madrid fans no longer have to forcefully rely on Eder Militao

Real Madrid fans, in the last few months, have seen a lot of injuries to their most important defenders. From losing Eder Militao a couple of times to horrific ACL injuries, to seeing the same problem arise with David Alaba, the club's luck with injuries has just not been very good, which is why they had to sign a couple of big centre-backs in these last few windows.

Real Madrid signed Dean Huijsen last summer, before bringing in free agent Ibrahima Konate this time around, and these two decisions have given the club a solid partnership and foundation to give their defense a new, improved and reliable look.

That has also meant that their dependence on Militao has been significantly reduced now, which is, unfortunately for the Brazilian, a relieving decision.

Real Madrid's two brilliant defenders are forming a brilliant partnership, and they finally have a centre-back good enough to manage the right half of defense in Konate. In these games so far, the French central defender has been pivotal in Real Madrid's good start to the season, and he has stabilised Real Madrid's defense after years of struggle.

The fact that Real Madrid now, on paper, have a centre-back worthy of taking over the tag of being the best defender on the team from Militao gives the club enough confidence to keep playing him, which would help Militao manage his minutes, too.

Militao had obviously logged a lot of miles before his injury - which is the part and parcel of every player who is great from a very young age. Obviously, that does not mean his two ACL injuries were because of that reason, but it does not help that he had already accumulated so many minutes on the pitch before that point of time.

Those minutes, and these injuries - even the non-ACL ones - would mean that Real Madrid would have to be extremely careful with regards to his minutes. Jose Mourinho would have to keep resting him so that the risk of him being injured again is minimised.

Obviously, that is not to say that Militao won't play a lot, because any team that plays as many games as Real Madrid would have to use the entirety of their squad every season. Militao will continue to get good game time, but he would no longer have to be the first player on the teamsheet at the sight of him being fit.

Real Madrid fans, with the arrival of Konate and the partnership between him and Huijsen, wouldn't have to completely rely on Militao for the sole reason of not having a better centre-back than him anymore. They would rest assured by the fact that Konate is a brilliant presence in defense, and that he is a profile that has been missing from the team for a long time.