In their third match at the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid fielded a completely new face – not just in terms of personnel, but in terms of system. Xabi Alonso, a son of Spanish football but tactically developed in Germany, implemented the 3-5-2 formation for the first time at the Spanish royal club.
No longer the Real Madrid of spontaneous attacking moves, no longer football based on individual brilliance, Alonso is building a modern, organized Real Madrid, and most importantly: proactive both with and without the ball.
“I want the team to play modern football. That means intensity, proactiveness, and mental strength,” Alonso declared at his presentation at Valdebebas. And he didn’t just say it.
After just eight training sessions in Miami, Xabi Alonso felt his team was ready to implement a tactical system that was complex and required a high level of organization. Against Salzburg, he fielded a 1-3-5-2 formation: three central defenders with Tchouameni playing deepest, two attacking full-backs Fran García and Trent Alexander-Arnold, a defensive midfield pairing of Valverde and Arda Guler supporting Jude Bellingham from behind, while Vinicius and Gonzalo Ramos acted as the two strikers.
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Real Madrid played with three central defenders in their match against Salzburg on the morning of June 27th. |
This isn't a temporary solution. It's the result of a process of preparation, research, and convincing the players through continuous video analysis sessions. "Even when the players are in the hotel, we don't leave them idle. We want them to live with this system throughout the season," Alonso stated emphatically.
The tactical changes reflect a completely new football philosophy. Instead of the relentless attacking style that Real Madrid has traditionally adopted in recent years, Alonso's team is more cautious in controlling the ball and choosing when to accelerate.
"We can't just keep pushing forward all the time. Sometimes keeping possession and leaving space for the opponent is a better option," he explained. That's why Bellingham – who is usually the furthest forward – is now being moved back to play as an attacking midfielder, to increase ball retention and orchestration in the "inner flank" area.
It's also worth mentioning the crucial role of the two full-backs. In this formation, they are not simply wingers. They must know when to drop deep to form a five-man defense, when to move inwards to support the midfield, and when to push forward to attack like wing midfielders. This flexibility allows Real Madrid to switch from a 3-5-2 to a 5-2-3 and then back to a 4-4-2 in a single move.
Fran García, who started on the left flank, made a very realistic comment: “The support from Vini and Gonzalo helps us maintain control of the game. Everything will work out – it’s just a matter of time.” In that statement, one can sense the consensus within the team regarding the new direction outlined by Xabi Alonso.
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Xabi Alonso reshaped Real Madrid. |
Of course, there's no guarantee of immediate success. Such far-reaching changes will take time to perfect, for the various components to understand each other, and for old habits to be replaced by new reflexes. But what's noteworthy is that Real Madrid is daring to change, daring to start over, and this time, they're placing their faith in someone who was once a maestro on the pitch – now wanting to become an architect on the sidelines.
Xabi Alonso is not just bringing a new tactical system. He is instilling in Real Madrid a philosophy where football is no longer about individual improvisation, but about organized, disciplined, and resilient collective effort. And if he succeeds, it will be a completely new chapter in the history of the greatest team of the 21st century.
Source: https://znews.vn/real-madrid-dang-thay-doi-tu-goc-re-post1564122.html
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