Real Madrid has a clear problem ahead of the new season, and that is how it will solve its midfield issues after the club failed to sign any reinforcements for this position. Only two preseason games have been played, one of which cannot even be classified as a friendly, but rather a training match, and the other will be next Tuesday against WSG Tirol, the only real test before the start of the league championship.
Problems in midfield
Real Madrid suffered greatly last season in midfield. They are pure specialists in the creative zone, but the team lacked all kinds of resources to build up play, and the game was based on finding individual players to decide matches. The quality of the Real Madrid players was enough to get them through most of their league games, but when the big teams came along, they fell apart, being outplayed in all areas of the game and with no real options to turn matches around.
But beyond the problems in creation, the lack of a specialist in midfield also wreaked havoc in defense. The team was broken, with no connection between the lines, allowing their opponents to run riot in front of the white goal. More of the same: on a day-to-day basis, it was enough to get the games through, but against strong opponents, there was nothing to be done, a sieve at the back.
Homework for Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso is working with the two options he has to build in midfield, Güler, who made a very good impression in the final stretch of the season in this new position, and Ceballos, who should return to prominence given the lack of options. Together with Tchouaméni and the new system introduced by the Tolosa-born coach, the team must be able to solve the problems that cost them last season.
In addition, Xabi Alonso has started the season with Thiago Pitarch and Manuel Ángel, two promising youth players who are set to become the future brains of Real Madrid. But we already know that making the step up to the first team is a hurdle that very few youth players are able to overcome, although they know that now, with the new policy that the club wants to promote with the younger players, they have more options, as seen in the cases of Asencio and Gonzalo, who are making their first appearances with the first team.
Xabi Alonso’s first test
Xabi Alonso’s first test, against Leganés in a closed-door training match, saw him take a gamble by selecting Ceballos in the starting line-up. However, few conclusions can be drawn from this first test, firstly because it took place on the fifth day of training, and secondly because, although there were some regulars in the starting eleven, such as Valverde, Vinicius and Mbappé, others who are unlikely to be missing, such as Tchouaméni, were not in the line-up either.
Little is known about the match, as there are no images, only that Leganés took the lead and that the Whites went on to win 4-1.
Now it’s time for the second test, the first with a more serious character, this Tuesday, where we will be able to see Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid in this new season. It will be the last test before the start of La Liga, and we will be able to see the Tolosa-born coach’s plans to strengthen the midfield.