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Real Madrid are entering a new era. |
Real Madrid has long been a symbol of victory, but not a symbol of football philosophy. While Barcelona sticks to tiki-taka, Manchester City becomes the “Pep Guardiola school”, Real Madrid always wins with individual class, star quality and experience at decisive moments.
That is the legacy that the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti inherit - managers who do not necessarily create a perfect system, but know how to make the system work for exceptional individuals.
However, times are changing. And Xabi Alonso is the man chosen to write a new chapter.
President Florentino Perez has made no secret of his dream of recreating the image of Santiago Bernabeu - the man who led Real Madrid to their first European Cup in 1956. With the expanded Club World Cup being held for the first time this year, Perez wants to take Real to the top of the world in this brand new tournament. But to do that, he has to admit: the team needs a football revolution.
This is no longer the time to blindly trust in individual genius. It is no longer the time to wait for Luka Modric and Toni Kroos to turn the tide of battle. The days of Ancelotti “cheering” from the sidelines are over. Real Madrid need a tactical idea, a clear framework – and Alonso is expected to be the man to deliver it.
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Xabi Alonso is tasked with rebuilding everything. |
Interestingly, Alonso is not just a young tactician, but also part of Real’s winning DNA. He was a key cog in the 2014 Champions League-winning side – playing in the position that Toni Kroos then took over for a decade. Now Alonso is back, bringing a modern mindset: a mix of German organisation, Pep Guardiola’s spatial control, and Basque pragmatism.
Alonso's plan for Real Madrid is not simple. His chosen formation is a 4-4-2 that can be transformed into a 3-4-1-2 depending on the situation on the pitch.
Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe - both players who love the left flank - will play as a tandem striker. They will not compete for positions, but will be structured to complement each other.
This means pure wingers like Rodrygo Goes are likely to leave, with the width now being provided by full-backs. Real’s pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold is a key piece in that scheme.
However, the diagram is just the tip of the iceberg. Alonso's biggest challenge lies in his ability to execute.
The passing triangles, the transitions, the tempo of the rotations – all require timing, understanding and patience, while Alonso has less than a week to work with his full squad before the Club World Cup – a tournament Perez has pinned his hopes on.
Moreover, the personnel problem has not been completely solved. The central midfield position that Alonso expects will have someone capable of falling back to play as a third center back - the way Busquets did at Barcelona. Martin Zubimendi is the number one target, but Real are losing ground to Arsenal. If they cannot successfully recruit him, Alonso's system risks lacking a strategic pillar.
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Ancelotti, Modric have gone into the past. |
Despite the risks, this is a gamble that Perez is willing to take. Because he knows better than anyone that Real Madrid cannot continue to live in the past. Recent Champions League titles have been largely thanks to the temperament of veteran stars. But with Kroos retired, Modric back in the game, Real Madrid needs a new way of playing, a new skeleton, and a new strategic leader.
Alonso has it all: he has the history, the philosophy, and the desire to reshape an empire. The question is: is the Club World Cup the right place to start this revolution? Or is it just too early a milestone for an unfinished project?
The answer will come quickly. And if Alonso succeeds, it will be the start of an era in which Real Madrid learn to play as a team, not just rely on talent. If he fails, doubts will surround him – and the legacy Perez wants to continue could be lost from the very beginning.
Source: https://znews.vn/cuoc-cach-mang-chien-thuat-o-real-madrid-bat-dau-post1560490.html
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