Reporter Adrian Garcia said that new captain Xabi Alonso sent a strong message to his stars ahead of the tournament taking place in the US.

Real Madrid will start the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a match against Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) at 2am on June 19 and Xabi wants the whole team to be fully focused from the first match.

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Xabi Alonso asked Mbappe and Vinicius to be more active on the pitch, to work without the ball. Photo: Madrid Xtra

The 43-year-old captain has told Real Madrid's stars that he will not accept distractions or 'playing around' on the pitch. In particular, Xabi Alonso has been tough on the two pillars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius.

The duo are expected to lead Real Madrid into this new era, but it's not just about dribbling, scoring and creating, Xabi wants Mbappe and Vinicius to work without the ball.

In a training session in preparation for his debut, Xabi put particular emphasis on the above issue. The former midfielder asked them to press, disrupt the opponent's intentions and contribute to the overall team effort. Xabi's message was clear to Mbappe, Vinicius: " You don't need to run like a defender, but you need to constantly put pressure on the opponent's defense ."

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Xabi Alonso Vinicius Madrid Xtra.jpg
The duo's reaction will be decisive for Xabi Alonso's reign at Real Madrid. Photo: Madrid Xtra

In fact, Xabi Alonso's request is not new, when veteran strategist Carlo Ancelotti also requested that of this attacking duo. However, Mbappe and Vinicius did not do it and people have seen a number of times, Jude Bellingham must be dissatisfied with that, asking his teammates to move, retreat to support the defense more,...

How Xabi Alonso’s reign at Real Madrid plays out will depend on how Mbappe and Vinicius respond to the demands of their new manager. If both accept the changes, Real Madrid could emerge as a united force. If not, Xabi’s revolution could collapse sooner than expected.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is Xabi Alonso's first challenge after replacing Ancelotti in the 'hot seat' at Bernabeu. The new captain knows that there are more important things than the trophy, which is the value and stature of the club, especially after a season when they were empty-handed on all fronts, as well as bringing a significant amount of money into the Vulture's budget.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/xabi-yeu-cau-gat-mbappe-va-vinicius-truoc-tran-ra-mat-real-madrid-2412114.html