The Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid began with the Club World Cup, which ended earlier than hoped for the Whites and in disastrous fashion. The team crashed out in the semi-finals after being thrashed 4-0 by Luis Enrique’s PSG, who were clearly superior to the Chamartín side, who failed in every aspect of the game and whose grotesque defensive errors were a gift to a team like the French side, who need little to impose themselves and find the back of the net. It was a bitter end to a tournament that had its ups and downs and served as a test to see which players will be important for Xabi Alonso and have earned their place in the team.
Passed with flying colors in the World Cup
Real Madrid’s World Cup has not been perfect, but there are undoubtedly players who have stood out above the rest, such as Courtois, Fede Valverde, Dean Huijsen, and Gonzalo. Tchouaméni and Arda Güler also deserve a special mention. Although they have areas for improvement, like the rest of the team, they have been pillars of Xabi Alonso’s scheme throughout the tournament.
- Courtois: Once again, the goalkeeper has been a lifeline for his team. He proved it against Pachuca with more than ten saves, confirmed it against Borussia Dortmund with an outstanding save that prevented the team from going into extra time, and even in the defeat against PSG he made several great saves, two of them with the score still at 0-0.
- Fede Valverde: He is a clear 10, because you can’t give him any higher a score. The Uruguayan is undoubtedly the player that Xabi Alonso has compared to Gerrard on multiple occasions. The coach has been full of praise for him, and with good reason. He was surely Madrid’s best player in the tournament with two goals and a great performance in different positions.
- Huijsen: The signing of the Spanish center back was a total success. He has arrived to take over the center of the defense for many years to come. Despite his youth and a few isolated mistakes, such as the one against Borussia, he is confident in defense and is key to the team’s build-up play with his surprising ball control.
- Gonzalo: The youth player saw his opportunity and did not waste it. Mbappé’s physical setback opened the door for him in the starting lineup, and he took advantage of it with four goals and one assist in six games, but also with his dedication, commitment, and mobility on the field. He has connected well with the midfielders and has earned a spot at the Santiago Bernabéu.
- Tchouaméni: The World Cup has confirmed him as an important player for Real Madrid, especially in Xabi Alonso’s system, which sees him playing a dual role as a stopper at center back and in attack as a fourth midfielder. There are things to improve, but he is key.
- Güler: Arda Güler has also been key, showing signs of the playmaker he can become, although there is work to be done, as was clear against PSG. He needs to improve in many defensive and positioning aspects to become the midfielder that the Whites need.
Luka Modric could also be included in this category. Although he was relegated to a secondary role in the World Cup, when he had the opportunity to play, he demonstrated his enormous quality. He is a legend, and in his farewell, he deserves nothing less than an A, if only for his career.
Correct… but nothing more
In the group of players who passed but did not shine in the tournament are Bellingham, Trent, and Fran García. They played their roles correctly, scoring goals, providing assists, and performing better than during the season in the case of the full-back, but they went largely unnoticed. In the case of the recent signing for the right-back position, more is expected of him, so he will have to continue to grow when he returns to work after the holidays. On the other hand, Brahim and Ceballos have hardly featured, but they have performed correctly in the minutes Xabi Alonso has given them.
Real Madrid failures
Those who failed deserve a separate chapter. Asencio gets the worst mark of the tournament. The center back has started three games and in all three he has made grotesque mistakes that have cost him all the credit he had earned during the season. Although he could have scraped a five, Rüdiger’s latest mistake against PSG is unforgivable for a player with his experience and puts him on the list of those who failed.
Vinicius and Mbappé deserve a separate chapter. Both could pass as they have scored goals and have undeniable talent, but the truth is that the Brazilian has shown his usual apathy and lack of commitment and yet has started every game in the tournament, while the Frenchman was absent and on his return… nothing special.
No minutes to evaluate
Youth players such as Jacobo Ramón and Víctor Muñoz, as well as Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Lucas Vázquez, who have not even played 45 minutes, cannot be evaluated beyond the farewell of the Galician full-back or the return of Eder Militao and Lucas Vázquez after serious injuries.