The arrival of Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid has been a huge success, and the decision to put him in charge of the team during the Club World Cup was even better. It’s not easy to start out at a club as important as Real Madrid, having to be focused 24 hours a day for weeks on end and facing a highly demanding competition right off the bat. However, the coach has taken the bull by the horns and, through dedication and hard work, has managed to change the team in just three weeks. The image is now very different from that seen during the season and is largely based on his key players.
The keys to the team
One of Xabi Alonso’s most repeated mantras since his arrival is that he wants the team to play as a unit, with everyone attacking and defending as a team. It is a task that is proving difficult, but little by little it is being reflected in the team’s play, with varying degrees of commitment, but it is noticeable. The team has pushed forward, pressing higher up the pitch, which allows them to win the ball back and attack with greater ease.
In addition, another change introduced by the coach is to play with a three-man defense with a key element that Xabi Alonso is refining, Tchouaméni. The French player acts as the third center back in defense and fourth midfielder in attack, playing a crucial role for his coach depending on the phase of the game.
A midfield where all the play is going through Arda Güler, who is second to Ancelotti and indispensable in this new Real Madrid. What remains unchanged is the versatility and importance of Fede Valverde, who is making a big impact in attack.
Finally, Courtois continues to be vital in both areas, proving his reliability between the sticks with his latest save against Borussia Dortmund that prevented extra time, while Gonzalo García is the sensation of the Club World Cup with four goals and an assist in five games.
Xabi Alonso’s indispensable players
There are several players who are regulars in Xabi Alonso’s starting eleven. A total of nine Real Madrid players have played in all five games. They are Courtois, Trent, Huijsen, Fran García, Tchouaméni, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius, and Gonzalo. Güler has started four games, and Rüdiger three. Raúl Asencio has two, and Rodrygo one.
In terms of minutes played, only two players have played every minute (505 minutes): Thibaut Courtois in goal and Fran García on the left wing. They are closely followed by Dean Huijsen (503), who will not be able to play in the semi-final after being sent off in the final stages of the match against Borussia Dortmund. On the other side of the coin, players who have lost prominence compared to the Carlo Ancelotti era and have played very few minutes include Rodrygo and Brahim with 99 minutes, Ceballos with 97, and Lucas Vázquez, who is living his last moments as a Real Madrid player and has only enjoyed 35 minutes in one of the five games the Whites have played so far.