Xabi Alonso is returning to Actual Madrid with the previous midfielder taking up as coach from Carlo Ancelotti and main the workforce on the upcoming Membership World Cup.
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AFP Sport appears at three areas the 43-year-old Spaniard should take into consideration within the weeks and months forward as he tries to plot a course again in direction of main trophies, with Los Blancos ending this season empty-handed.
Alonso’s predecessor Ancelotti spent a lot of the final season complaining his workforce was unbalanced and likewise lacked “collective commitment”.
In brief, the squad had too many attackers he felt he needed to cram onto the sphere, whereas accidents left the defence in tatters and Madrid didn’t signal somebody to exchange midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired final summer time.
French celebrity Kylian Mbappe’s arrival on the finish of his Paris Saint-Germain contract in 2024 was the large change for a Madrid facet that gained a Champions League and La Liga double.
For some time he and Vinicius Junior struggled to play collectively, occupying the identical areas, and though Mbappe grew snug down the center, netting 43 targets throughout all competitions, their twin presence value Madrid defensively.
Alonso has to work out a method for the pair to work in tandem whereas nonetheless urgent successfully and ensuring Madrid aren’t outnumbered when on the again foot.
Veteran midfielder Luka Modric’s departure after the Membership World Cup means Alonso might be shedding but extra poise, approach and knowledge from the midfield.
The previous Bayer Leverkusen coach has largely used a 3-4-3 formation which might swimsuit Madrid’s squad, notably with the anticipated arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and a deal already completed for Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen.
If there was one explicit activity Ancelotti excelled at, it was holding a dressing room full of huge names and massive egos joyful.
Ancelotti managed to get the most effective out of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in his first spell on the Santiago Bernabeu after which helped flip Vinicius right into a celebrity in his second.
The Italian coach would generally baulk at ideas he was a great man supervisor however not a tactical mastermind, but it surely shouldn’t be underestimated how essential it’s to maintain individuals onside at Madrid.
That features president Florentino Perez, the star gamers, and even the media, all of whom Ancelotti dealt with supremely nicely.
Alonso has an aura about him which might assist in the identical method it did for Zinedine Zidane, one other former Madrid participant who thrived on the helm.
One of many nails in Ancelotti’s coffin at Madrid was the way in which his workforce collapsed in opposition to their arch-rivals in all 4 Clasicos this season.
Barcelona romped to a 4-0 win in La Liga in October to embarrass Madrid on residence soil and lay down a marker of how the season was going to go.
Their 4-3 victory within the return league match was what successfully dethroned Madrid and took the Spanish crown again to Catalonia and the rating might have been wider with out being unfair to Los Blancos.
Barcelona additionally beat Actual Madrid 3-2 within the Copa del Rey closing and 5-2 within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing as they accomplished a home treble and left Madrid reeling.
Ancelotti’s facet couldn’t deal with Hansi Flick’s excessive defensive position and relentless urgent, and Alonso will already be finding out the German’s set-up to ensure Madrid fare much better subsequent season within the crunch clashes.
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