Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he's not tied to a single playing system. At Bayer Leverkusen, he succeeded with a three-center-back formation, but that doesn't fit at Real Madrid. People at Valdebebas know it, and the coach has accepted it.
The new project starts on June 2 with a different idea: the 4-3-3. It'll be the tactical foundation, though not the only one. The white squad isn't ready for a five-man defense.
With Militao, Rüdiger, and Alaba nursing injuries, there's no room for improvisation. The coach only has Asencio and Huijsen healthy. Jacobo Ramón and Aguado could help, although the latter has spent months playing as a full-back.
Vinicius, key in the new system
The new scheme demands total commitment, especially from the attacking players. One of Xabi Alonso's first messages will go to Vinicius. The Brazilian must understand that his contribution can't be limited to attacking. The white starting eleven broke down too many times due to a lack of defensive help. That's over now.
Xabi Alonso wants talent, yes, but with sacrifice. There can't be three or four not tracking back, maybe one. More than that, no. That's how his coaching staff saw it after analyzing the team's recent matches in detail.
The analysis that changed everything
Beñat Labaien, Xabi Alonso's right-hand man, attended several Madrid matches. He took note of every imbalance, every lack of defensive interest. What he found was not pleasing at all.
That led to rethinking the initial plan. It's no longer about copying what was done in Germany. People need to adapt to what's available. What's available calls for a more compact model, with everyone involved.
Real Madrid haven't played with a pure 4-3-3 in decades. But that formula gave them the Champions League in Paris in 2000. Now, it could once again be the foundation of success.
A future with unknowns
The Club World Cup will serve as a test. Xabi Alonso will assess which center-backs are ready and who could be promoted from the reserve team. They're even considering signing another defender if the current ones don't recover in time.
The priority, however, is to build a balanced team. For that, commitment will be more important than the name. Because talent without effort doesn't win titles.
People at Madrid already know it: the new boss doesn't want stars who don't run. He wants champions who sweat for the badge. In that, Xabi Alonso's plan has already taken its first unexpected turn.