Since Xabi Alonso’s arrival at Real Madrid, he has made it clear that his approach has nothing to do with what Carlo Ancelotti was doing. From the way he trains to the system he uses, the new coach is making many changes and, as he made clear in his presentation, no one is untouchable… and he is proving it. The coach does not hesitate when it comes to making decisions about the line-up, but also when it comes to making changes at any given moment.
No one is untouchable
One of the things that the new coach has changed is that no one is untouchable anymore. Gone are the days of starting lineups by decree, where players always played whether they did well or poorly, whether they were in shape or not. Ancelotti had a set lineup with specific names, an unchangeable eleven in which he made no changes except in cases of force majeure, while Xabi has given starting spots to players who had been secondary and has benched some of Ancelotti’s regulars.
Fran García has gained prominence under Xabi Alonso and has taken advantage of the confidence shown in him, as has Arda Güler. In addition, he has not hesitated to bet on Gonzalo in the absence of Endrick and Mbappé instead of betting on Brahim or Rodrygo as the Italian did. On the other side of the coin, with Xabi, mistakes are paid for, and so Asencio has not returned to the starting lineup after his sending off, not to mention Rodrygo, who has not performed when given the opportunity and is a regular on the bench.
Gonzalo above Mbappé
It seems that meritocracy reigns in the new Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso’s hand is steady. Gonzalo García was once again in the starting line-up ahead of Kylian Mbappé against Borussia. The young academy player is on a roll and it is almost impossible to bench one of the best players in the World Cup, who has his sights set firmly on goal.
He proved it again yesterday when, just a few minutes into the game, he found the back of the net for the fourth time in the World Cup. Mbappé is still not 100%, according to the coach, who prefers to pace him and let him continue to grow in training.
The player has yet to show his best form, but in the mere 45 minutes he has played in the World Cup, he has already found the net, scoring his 44th goal of the season. He did so last night with a stunning goal in stoppage time. The Frenchman received a brilliant cross from Arda Güler with his left foot and didn’t think twice: scissors kick and 3-1 to the Whites. A goal dedicated to Diogo Jota.
The substitutions
Coach Xabi Alonso also showed no hesitation with his substitutions. In the 67th minute, he brought on Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. These three players left the field at MetLife Stadium to be replaced by Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappé, and Dani Ceballos. The match was still undecided, and the coach didn’t mind making a move and taking important players off the field.
In the case of Vinicius and Ballingham, the change was understandable because both were on yellow cards and Xabi Alonso didn’t want to take any risks, even though they were risky changes that could have consequences. In Trent’s case, the player is going through a slow adaptation process and Xabi Alonso needed other things.
In the press conference, the coach assessed the changes. “We settled down. We played more in the opposition’s half. We had Arda’s chance, Luka’s chance, to make it 3-0. And I’ve said it before, it’s not just the starting players, the substitutes can also be decisive and they did well,” he said, adding that “I’m where I need to be. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s what making decisions is all about. We need everyone. Those on the bench have to live it, be connected for the decisive moments. We’re together 24 hours a day for three weeks. If you want coffee, have two cups. We’re in the semifinals, we’re happy. Two hours to disconnect and when we get to Florida, we’ll start preparing for the big game against PSG.”