Xabi Alonso has landed at Real Madrid with the difficult task of reactivating a locker room that finished the season without meeting its objectives. Ancelotti's departure has meant a change of course and now the bench is occupied by a respected figure who already left a mark. His first serious challenge is the Club World Cup, which kicked off next weekend.
Although this tournament has a new format, for Xabi Alonso it's not a minor event. He knows there's much more at stake than just a trophy. It's about prestige, about keeping the Madrid brand at the top, and about bringing a significant amount of money into the coffers.
That's why the coach wants maximum focus from the very first match. He has already told his players that he won't accept distractions or relaxed attitudes. In particular, he wanted to speak with the team's two biggest stars: Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
Xabi Alonso doesn't mess around
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are expected to lead Real Madrid in this new era. But Xabi doesn't want that to mean just dribbles, goals, and assists. He has made it clear to them that to compete in demanding tournaments, something more is needed: work off the ball.
During one of the training sessions before the debut, Xabi Alonso was especially insistent on this matter. He asked them to press, disrupt the opponent's buildup, and contribute to the collective effort. This message didn't go unnoticed.
The phrase he threw at them has been widely discussed: "You don't have to run like a defender, but you have to constantly press the defense." With this kind of instruction, the new coach makes it clear that he won't tolerate passive attitudes.
This approach makes sense, in modern soccer, where everyone attacks and everyone defends, even more so if you want to dominate international competitions. Xabi Alonso wants Madrid to work to win the ball back quickly and not give the opponent any breathing room. To achieve this, the defensive work of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior must be impeccable.
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior have homework
The response of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior to Xabi Alonso's demands will be key to measuring the coach's initial success. If both accept their new role, Madrid can grow as a unit. If not, Xabi's revolution could falter sooner than expected.
Last year, with Ancelotti on the bench, both Vinícius and Kylian did their own thing. This year, however, Xabi Alonso isn't going to tolerate it. On the bench, he has more than enough talent to make whatever changes he deems necessary.