Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid debut at the Club World Cup was meant to be a soft landing. A chance to test ideas, integrate youth, and maybe lift a trophy.
Instead, it exposed growing pains, tactical experiments, and areas that still need shaping. Here are five things we learned from observing the team in the club World Cup.
Embed from Getty Images1. Xabi Alonso is not afraid to experiment
From a back three against Pachuca to a flat 4‑4‑2 versus PSG, Xabi Alonso used this tournament to play with structure. Some of it clicked, most of it didn’t.
But the message was clear. This is a manager willing to break things in order to rebuild.
Tactically, he’s flexible. But flexibility without balance can quickly become chaos. Like PSG showed him.
Embed from Getty Images2. The high press is still a work in progress
One of the standout shifts under Xabi Alonso was the aggressive pressing. Real Madrid pushed higher, pressed in waves, and tried to suffocate possession.
It worked well in some places, especially in their 3–1 win over Pachuca. But when the high was broken, it left the midfield exposed and the backline scrambling.
They’re not quite ready for 90 minutes of full-throttle pressing. Not yet.
Embed from Getty Images3. Real Madrid’s young players look ready
Gonzalo García took his chances and won the tournament’s golden boot. Fran García looked like a player reborn. Arda Güler had flashes of brilliance. The Club World Cup gave Madrid’s younger players a platform and they performed excellently in it.
If this tournament was a litmus test for who could handle the heat, several passed. We expect Alonso to lean on them again.
Embed from Getty Images4. Defensive structure needs urgent attention
Madrid conceded four goals to PSG in nine minutes. That alone tells its story. Whether it was poor positioning, late tracking, or a disconnect between midfield and defence, the backline looked unsettled.
Xabi Alonso’s tweaks to the setup may have caused more harm than good. And with injuries in key areas, depth is now a concern too.
Embed from Getty Images5. Alonso is in for the long haul
After the PSG loss, Xabi Alonso was measured. “We’re building,” he said.
No panic. No finger-pointing. Just honesty.
The Club World Cup wasn’t about immediate glory but it was about learning for him. Learning about his new team.
He treated the tournament like the first step of building, not a final product of his team.
Embed from Getty ImagesOverall, it wasn’t the perfect or expected start for Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid. But in just a few matches, we saw tactical bravery, youth integration, and the outlines of a new identity.
The ideas are bold but there’s the hard part, making them work consistently.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Pejuola Ransome
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