The arrival of Xabi Alonso is closer than ever to Real Madrid. Although the final stretch of the season is still to be decided, the season and the tough elimination from the Champions League have left Ancelotti‘s position in serious doubt, and his days could be numbered for next season. Although the league title and the Cup could change everything, there is little hope of winning the two titles that would almost guarantee his stay for another season.
A very unbalanced squad
Real Madrid has not done its homework during the campaign. The departures of Kroos, Nacho, and Joselu were not replaced, and the club decided to stick with what it had. The injuries to Carvajal and Militao were also not addressed with signings by the club president. The consequences have been evident all year. A team without replacements, with tired and complacent players, has resulted in a squad that is not a team, with no footballing identity and with shortcomings far removed from what is expected of a team that wants to fight for everything.
The individual talents of the team have been enough to plug the gaps during the season, but when it comes to the big games, the team has been outplayed in attack, in midfield and in defense. The most obvious proof of this was the elimination against Arsenal in the Champions League, where the English side ran riot against the Whites, but it has also been evident in the two matches against Barcelona to date, in La Liga and in the Spanish Super Cup, where the Blaugranas scored four goals at the Bernabéu and five in Saudi Arabia.
A new coach arrives
Although Ancelotti was the first to point out the team’s shortcomings, demand more intensity from his players and call for new signings from the board, he is now the one in the firing line. Many believe that his time at Real Madrid is over and an alternative is being sought for next season. Xabi Alonso seems to be the chosen one, although he is not the only one. Jurgen Klopp has also been mentioned in recent weeks, but he would be one step behind the San Sebastian native.
The arrival of Xabi Alonso would be conditional: the coach is well aware that the team has shortcomings and knows that he would be joining the team at a very delicate moment, so he would want to strengthen the team with several players who fit his understanding of football. He is aware that the current market, with its exorbitant prices, makes it impossible to fulfill all his requests, but some would have to come in order to face next season with more guarantees.
The signings Xabi Alonso wants
The two priorities Xabi Alonso would like to strengthen are the center back, left back, and midfield positions. For the midfield, he would like to sign Zubimendi or Wirtz. The Real Sociedad midfielder is the most likely candidate at the moment, mainly because of his price, but also because of his development and because he is a complete defensive midfielder, a wall against opposing attacks and with good footwork to bring the ball out from the back, whether in dribbling, short passes or long passes, an all-rounder in midfield. The high price of Wirtz, who has similar characteristics to Zubimendi, seems a difficult hurdle to overcome.
The left-back and center-back positions would be filled by two players he currently coaches, Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan Tah. The Spanish international is a long-range player with good defensive skills and excellent offensive ability, with a privileged strike on the ball. The center back, Jonathan Tah, seems more feasible: one of the best center backs in the Bundesliga who would arrive on a free transfer at the end of his contract and would strengthen a defense that has been in tatters in recent years.
Xabi Alonso could be Real Madrid’s coach next season. He would come with new ideas and new players, which are his demands to take charge of a team that needs to improve in many areas of the field.