"Xabi Alonso Sticks to His Vision and Won’t Back Down"

 

Real Madrid’s humbling 4–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals has sparked fresh debate about the team’s direction under Xabi Alonso. While the manager still enjoys strong backing and widespread respect, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the road ahead may be more complicated than originally thought.

Speaking on Carrusel Deportivo, journalist Dani Garrido gave a frank assessment of Madrid’s current state as they prepare for the upcoming season.

When asked whether the Club World Cup offered any clarity about the team’s future, Garrido didn’t hold back. He praised the club’s decision to appoint Alonso—but also acknowledged that the problems facing the squad run deeper than many had assumed.

“Xabi Alonso is a fantastic coach, and there’s no doubt the club made the right decision bringing him in. But clarity can work both ways—it doesn’t always come from progress. Sometimes, as Xabi’s demeanor hinted, it comes from hard lessons you’d rather not face again.”

Garrido criticized Xabi Alonso for repeatedly downplaying the Club World Cup as the season’s first real title opportunity. While likely intended to temper expectations, Garrido argued that such remarks didn’t sit well with fans who expected more ambition from the team in a global tournament.

Even so, not everything was bleak. There were glimpses of promise. As Garrido put it:

“Madridistas have reasons to see some green shoots: Huijsen is coming through, Güler has shown he can control the tempo and shine, Valverde looks in great form, and Gonzalo continues to impress. But the team still has old problems—no pressing, no intensity, and Vinicius still hasn’t quite found himself. Old problems and a few green shoots.”

In the aftermath of the defeat, much of the conversation has centered around the club’s two marquee attackers—Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé—and their lack of defensive contribution. Garrido acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue but emphasized that Alonso is unlikely to shy away from difficult decisions.

“Xabi already had a strong personality as a player. He has very clear ideas, and I think he’s well equipped to handle this. He won’t stay silent—he’ll make the calls that need to be made. He did brilliantly at Leverkusen, but this is Real Madrid. I think he’ll take us close to the line of the drastic—he knows when to be measured, but he won’t hesitate to go firm when it’s required.”

While many fans have focused on whether Vinicius and Mbappé can lead the press, Garrido offered a broader, more grounded take:

“It’s obvious that the only problem at Real Madrid isn’t that Vini and Mbappé don’t press. We’ve seen some outrageous things at the back. It’s one of ten or twelve issues this team needs to solve.”

As preseason ramps up, Xabi Alonso has plenty to reflect on as he prepares for his first full campaign in charge at the Bernabéu. With expectations high and margins thin, the path forward promises to test both his tactical acumen and his ability to manage the pressures unique to Real Madrid.