Xabi Alonso's Real was held to a draw by Saudi Arabia's representative. In the early morning of June 19, Real had a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in Group H, FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
Xabi Alonso's debut as Real Madrid head coach got off to a shaky start, with the team only managing a 1-1 draw. Against an Al Hilal side that were not particularly outstanding in terms of individual quality at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, Los Blancos were lifeless, disjointed and lacking in identity - a performance that left fans confused, pundits skeptical and Xabi himself immediately looking back.
In theory, no one asked Xabi to immediately recreate the destructive football after just a few training sessions in mid-June. But at a club like Real Madrid, every match - whether friendly or official - is a test, a stage to affirm values and declare abilities. And against Al Hilal, Real Madrid failed to do the minimum: show the spirit of a great team.
Right from the start, the game was tilted towards the Saudi Arabian representative. With the Cancelo - Lodi pair constantly pushing forward and the midfield controlled by Neves and Milinkovic-Savic, Al Hilal played as if they were the team that had won the European championship.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are struggling in a disorganized 1-4-1-4-1 formation. They don't press effectively, they don't retreat deep, and they don't have a leader to lead the system. This is no longer a personal problem, but a real tactical flaw.
Fran Garcia was often beaten in 1v1 situations, and Raul Asencio - despite playing in the heart of defence - made basic errors, from positioning to handling the ball. Only when Tchouameni was moved back to support the defence did the system stabilize. But that was only a stopgap measure.
At Real Madrid, the pressure on Xabi Alonso is huge. |
If the defense is fragile, the attack is paralyzed. Xabi Alonso used the familiar 1-4-3-3 formation, but the old problems under Carlo Ancelotti resurfaced. Bellingham was lackluster, Valverde was not fit enough to create breakthroughs from the second line, while Vinicius and Rodrygo were completely separated on the two wings. Without connection, without real ball-playing players, Real Madrid could only pass sideways or push out to the wings and then... stall.
A rare bright spot came from Dean Huijsen. The young Spanish centre-back showed good passing ability through the middle, a plus point in the context of the club lacking a conductor.
If a proper playmaker is not available in the transfer window, Huijsen could certainly be a viable option to help develop the ball from deep. However, asking a centre-back to also play the role of a game-changer is too much to ask - that is still the job of the midfield, where Xabi has yet to find a solution.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was deployed on the right but has yet to adapt to the new philosophy. He often drifts inside to create more men in midfield, but this leaves the right flank exposed, isolating Rodrygo and leaving the defence vulnerable to counter-attacks. Positional changes are necessary, but without consistent support, the consequences can easily be disastrous.
Real Madrid has not shown any improvement. |
Fortunately for Xabi Alonso, the match also brought some glimmers of hope. Gonzalo played energetically, moved intelligently and always chose good positions to finish. This player is the type of striker who knows how to "smell the goal" - something Real Madrid lacks. Xabi's boldness in letting young talent start shows that he is willing to put his faith in new elements, different from the conservatism seen in the previous reign.
Arda Güler was brought on in the second half and helped Real Madrid's midfield improve a bit. If he improves his defensive abilities, the Turkish talent could be a special tactical weapon in the hands of Xabi Alonso.
However, even with Arda Guler making some highlights, Real Madrid still left many gaps and were lucky to escape defeat against Al Hilal. It was even more regrettable when Valverde missed the penalty at the end of the match - Madrid's best chance to win.
The biggest problem for Xabi Alonso right now is not the quality of the players, but time. He has not had a real pre-season to test, adjust and discipline his tactics.
Xabi Alonso has to build the team, correct mistakes and face the pressure of achievement. Real Madrid is not Leverkusen - where people let him learn and grow. At Bernabeu, he is considered a "ripe" person, a leader ready to win titles immediately.
Xabi Alonso’s journey at Madrid has only just begun. But through the first 90 minutes, he has clearly felt the harshness of the position of head coach of the greatest club of the 20th century. Bernabeu is no place for “getting used to”. And just one more disappointing match, the glorious past with Leverkusen will become… a story to tell, not a shield to protect the present.
Source: https://znews.vn/xabi-alonso-nhan-gao-nuoc-lanh-dau-tien-tai-real-madrid-post1562021.html
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