The Real Madrid squad is full of big stars, and it is Xabi Alonso‘s job to get them to play together and perform at their best. It’s no easy task because egos can be difficult to manage, and the Spanish coach is already finding that out with an attacking line-up that has Rodrygo ruled out, although he may end up staying in the team, and Endrick out of action until October. He has three names to combine and get the most out of: Vinicius, Mbappé, and Gonzalo García.
Vinicius and Mbappé are not clicking
One of Carlo Ancelotti’s pending tasks, which was heavily criticized during the season, was how to fit two stars like Vinicius and Mbappé together. During his presentation, Xabi Alonso was asked about this issue and said he had ideas to get them to perform at their best. “We are lucky to have players of that caliber. Not just Kylian or Vinicius. They are special and we have to get everything out of them. If they give their all, the team will be much more successful. I have ideas, there is still time to work on them, but I will use it to do so. Communication and connection are important in order to know what we want. They are top-level players and that is my job.”
It’s true that he didn’t have much time to put them into practice with Mbappé out due to health problems, but against PSG it was clear that the duo are still not clicking. They have had moments throughout the season and Vinicius is one of the French striker’s top assist providers, but something is not quite right. In addition, with Xabi Alonso’s new playing style, where everyone plays as a unit, attacking and defending together, both players have looked somewhat anarchic, and you can tolerate that in one player, but two disrupt the team.
Mbappé absent from the World Cup and Gonzalo gaining ground
The World Cup was not the tournament of Kylian Mbappé, who left Madrid with discomfort that led to a fever and acute gastroenteritis that kept him out of action for most of the tournament. Faced with this situation, Xabi Alonso took a risky gamble that ultimately proved to be the best decision he could have made. He gave a starting spot to young Gonzalo García, who didn’t leave the starting lineup for the entire tournament and ended up becoming the World Cup’s top scorer with four goals and one assist, earning a spot on FIFA’s ideal eleven. He was the sensation of the tournament, which has earned him a spot on the first team.
Mbappé and Gonzalo as an attacking duo
“They can play together. They complement each other. If the context calls for it, it’s something I haven’t ruled out,” revealed Xabi Alonso during the Club World Cup, and that’s how he lined them up in the fateful match against PSG. It’s not the best game to make assessments, as the lack of dominance of the white team left the attack very unsupported. The truth is that Mbappé’s problems throughout the World Cup prevented him from being at his best, and Gonzalo was seen very far from the center of the attack. He worked hard, as he did throughout the World Cup, but he was far from the area where he can threaten with his finishing power.
Despite everything, it is not something that can be ruled out, as the Frenchman is not a pure number nine and moves all over the front line, often drifting out wide because, as we said, in many games his hot zone has overlapped with Vinicius’s. In addition, Mbappé would bring experience in high-pressure games, while Gonzalo has that spark and freshness that has done the team so much good and is a pure number 9.
Vinicius heavily criticized
Amid this debate about the front line, we find Vinicius heavily criticized in recent weeks. His image during the World Cup, beyond the match against Salzburg, has been one of passivity, lack of motivation, and no commitment in defense. In addition, he has maintained a somewhat capricious and provocative attitude at times. Beyond the off-field issues surrounding his contract renewal, his performance on the pitch is a cause for concern, leading some to wonder whether a spell on the bench might be the best cure for him to react and return to his former self.
Gonzalo with his future up in the air
Unlike his teammate, Gonzalo is on the up, but there is a problem. With Endrick in the team, the option of letting the youth player leave on a transfer that would be financially beneficial for the team arises, but always maintaining control over his future with a buy-back option similar to that of Nico Paz. On the other hand, with the Brazilian player out of action for a few more months, the option that is gaining the most ground is to try out the youth player, at least until January, and then make a decision.
Xabi Alonso and a decision to be made
These decisions are up to Xabi Alonso. The club has given him full powers and carte blanche to make the decisions he deems appropriate, both in terms of managing egos and deciding on the starting lineup and substitutions. The truth is that the coach has made it clear on multiple occasions that for him there are no names, only work throughout the week, and he will make the decisions that are best for the team regardless of anything else but performance. We will have to see what happens on Monday when the team returns to work. What a blessed problem to have so many options to choose from.