Those who have already reported for duty under Xabi Alonso in Valdebebas know what to expect from now on. The Basque coach is already working with the group, and he has paid little attention to the stifling heat in the capital over the last few days. Training sessions are tough, with more effort required than in the previous stage, and he will demand that his players give their all on the pitch.
Xabi Alonso steps up the intensity
In these first days of training, Xabi Alonso‘s statement of intent is clear. According to exclusive information obtained by Grada3, the Tolosa-born coach has arrived at Valdebebas with the idea of adding a little more intensity to the players’ training, or maybe a lot more. In these first days of training, the physical work is more intense, demanding an effort from his players that they did not have to make during Carlo Ancelotti‘s spell. There is a lot of ball work, but there is also a lot of tactical exercise, a lot of movement without the ball, and he wants his players to be on the move at all times, always active and alert.
Added to the stifling heat in Madrid these days, the players are finishing the session exhausted, as if it were a mini preseason, so that they are in the best possible shape for the World Cup. There is hardly any time and every minute counts.
Xabi Alonso demands effort
Xabi Alonso is not going to waste any time. He has surprised everyone since day one, arriving at Valdebebas before anyone else, at 7:00 a.m. Methodical, intense, leaving nothing to chance. Every minute is important, every detail can mean an improvement, can be decisive, and he knows it, especially at a club like Real Madrid, where he cannot leave any loose ends.
In his talk with his players, he committed to giving 200%, but in return, he asked the same of his players. Effort and dedication will be the foundation of everything, it will be key to his new Real Madrid.
Lack of players and his idea with Vinicius
International commitments leave little room for maneuver for Xabi Alonso, who is receiving players from the squad every day. The next to join are Bellingham and Alexander–Arnold, although they will not train with the group until Thursday, as they played on Tuesday. The squad will be almost complete this week, except for Vinicius, who will join the training camp in the United States directly.
The Brazilian’s case is generating a lot of excitement: Vinicius has been one of the players most singled out this season, mainly for his lack of teamwork and his lack of movement off the ball. Xabi Alonso will not tolerate this kind of behavior, but there is very little room for maneuver between the Brazilian’s arrival and the team’s first game on Wednesday. The Tolosa-born coach has come with a clear idea, and effort, mobility, and collective work are non-negotiable. The players will have to comply; that is how he understands soccer, and anything that does not fit into that idea will not be part of his plans.
Xabi Alonso is already leaving his mark at Valdebebas: the intensity has increased significantly, training sessions are much harder, more physical, and involve a lot of movement. He wants the players to quickly understand the coach’s new idea, where working without the ball and collective solidarity will be key. The coach wants to get off to a good start at the club, and that means fighting for the Club World Cup. He has little time, but excuses are not valid at Real Madrid, nor are they valid for a coach with the ambition of Xabi Alonso.