The first week of Xabi Alonso at the helm of Real Madrid has been a tough change for the squad in terms of the intensity of training. With little time to prepare for the Club World Cup, the Whites have already set sail for the US to conquer a new title, one that no one has won to date, and they are doing so with a significant physical workload to get in shape for the first match this coming Wednesday.
Xabi Alonso pushes the squad hard
Some have been there since Monday and others have joined throughout the week. But all those who have been there agree: the physical demands and the toughness of the training sessions are greater than under Carlo Ancelotti. Some hope that the pace will slow down as the season progresses and that this start is the result of imposing a certain discipline and the proximity of the Club World Cup.
But the truth is that, knowing Xabi Alonso‘s methodology and how his teams play, such physical exertion is not surprising, especially considering where Real Madrid has come from in the last season. The Tolosa-born coach wants a team with a lot of mobility, a unit that moves in unison and is capable of covering most of the field, with or without the ball. He will also demand defensive commitment: the group is above the individual, and in today’s football, effort is non-negotiable. A warning to all, especially Mbappé and Vinicius, who have yet to experience first-hand what awaits them.
Xabi Alonso knows what needs to change
He said it on the day he was presented: Xabi Alonso has watched Real Madrid throughout the year, and although his view is more technical and professional, the evidence is there for all to see: a team lacking in unity, with no mobility in attack and no defensive solidarity, incapable of applying decent pressure with a few exceptions, a team lacking in grit and competitiveness, something that has prevented it from going further and winning titles (and it has come close to doing so).
Now the players are starting from scratch. There are still players who are a step ahead, but there are others who are pushing for a place, and in Xabi Alonso’s footballing philosophy, anyone can earn a place in the starting eleven.
The demanding training sessions are just a preview of the physical effort he wants to see on the pitch, which is what he will demand from his players, who will have to be prepared if they want to earn the new coach’s trust.
A Club World Cup full of surprises
Real Madrid’s starting eleven seems set, coming off last season and with momentum on our side, we tend to have a typical eleven in mind. But nothing could be further from the truth. There will be changes to the starting eleven, not many, but there will be some. In addition to the two signings, Xabi Alonso is expected to bring in some unexpected players. He may decide not to play with the trident and give more importance to the midfield, with more collective play, more teamwork, more involvement and less speculation.
Xabi Alonso wants to change the team’s dynamic, and it all starts with training, where he has imposed a lot of intensity. The trip to the United States is the only break for players who already know what the Basque coach is like and know that dedication will be key to earning his trust. Something different is expected starting this Wednesday. The Ancelotti era is over, and Xabi Alonso’s is beginning, and it will be intense.