Angel Martinez/Real Madrid/Getty ImagesSami Khedira, center, has been more aggressive of late and deserves much credit for Madrid's recent good form.

"We want to show that we're improving and recovering our form from last year," Madrid defender Raul Albiol said before his side's 5-0 thrashing of Valencia at the Mestalla on Sunday night - Los Blancos' second victory over Los Che in less than a week. Jose Mourinho's men certainly showed exactly that against Ernesto Valverde's shell-shocked side. As a team, but also individually - both usually go hand-in-hand.

Much has been said of Cristiano Ronaldo's form since the turn of the year (and the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony). Seven goals in four games, all four games finishing with victory. The one game he did not play, due to suspension, finished 0-0 at bottom club Osasuna. The stats looked good, and his performances more than match them. The Portuguese is not the only player to be firing on all cylinders, however.

One player who goes under the radar is German midfielder Sami Khedira. Understandably so, given Ronaldo is the media darling, grabs the goals and generally spearheads the Madrid attacks. He is, after all, the second-best player in the world according to FIFA - and players, coaches and football writers around the world.

In contrast, the former Stuttgart man has been seen for a part of his career as a midfield battler who does the dirty stuff. The important stuff, true, but the dirty stuff. The stuff Ronaldo & Co. do not want to do. Get your foot in, run around, make life difficult for your opponent, win the ball and pass it on to the Portuguese and his more attack-minded teammates to do the pretty stuff.

It is a job Khedira has excelled at, and one most teams require. It is key. The role of stopping the other team's attack actually starts your own team's attack. Former Madrid, Chelsea and France midfielder Claude Makelele is usually the go-to man as an example of this. Now, for Madrid and Mourinho at least, it is Khedira.

Or was. Ronaldo may have been superb since the winter break for Madrid, but Los Blancos' improved success does not fall solely at the former Manchester United man's feet. Mourinho's decision to give Khedira a more forward-thinking role has had a big, big impact too. It is not necessarily a brand-new role for the 25-year-old, or something that has been worked on over the winter break. Khedira has showed signs of his more attacking nature throughout this campaign, but his license to roam forward seems to have been extended of late.

It is a role more familiar to the one he plays for his national side. A good old-fashoined box-to-box man. Slightly more of a rare occurrence in the modern game, but still extremely important - if the square peg fits the square hole. In this case, Khedira does. It is as though Mourinho has just got wind of the German's stellar engine. A bit of Vorsprung durch Technik, if you will, in-line with the midfielder's German nationality.

As well as the engine designed to power from one end of the pitch to the other, something crucial within Madrid's counter-attacking style, Khedira has the strength and power to muscle opponent off the ball, the structure to win the headers in the middle of the park, and has the skills and footballing brain to produce a quick, punchy pass to set Los Blancos on their way.

This play was especially evident at the Mestalla as Madrid ran riot. Khedira twice found himself in a good position to score but could not find the finishing touch. Still, he found the position and he sniffed out the danger in his new role.

His performances have not gone unnoticed at the Bernabeu. "It's a pleasure to watch Khedira play, with the way he wins possession and joins up with the attack,"Blancos assistant Aitor Karanka said. " Maybe it goes unnoticed by the crowd sometimes, but we all know what he does, and it's a joy to see how he contributes both defensively and going forward. He's in great form right now."

The German may not be on a par with countryman Mesut Ozil in the assist stakes - that is not his job - but this season has seen the Khedira break his Madrid assists record with four before the weekend trip to Valencia. It may not rank him anywhere near the top assist makers in La Liga come the end of the season, but for Khedira it is a fine record.

He set up Karim Benzema's important opener against Valencia in the Copa del Rey last week and that followed hot-on-the-heels of his assist and goal as Madrid saw off Real Sociedad 4-3 in the first match back after the winter break.

Xabi Alonso is key in this, too. Without the reliable former Liverpool man by his side, Khedira often finds himself playing deeper, back alongside his midfield partner. Especially when Luka Modric or Michael Essien are playing in there alongside him. Alonso's disciplined game, sitting back and orchestrating his side's attacks with one sweet lash of the ball, allows Khedira the license to move forward. It is something that has been worked on, and it is something that is working for Madrid.

Follow Nicholas on Twitter @nicholasrigg

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