In the historical list of coaches who have sat on the bench of Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso will occupy an aristocratic place. Tolosa's is the number 50 coach, being six of them of Basque origin. Berraondo, Quincoces, Albéniz, Ipiña and Lopetegui preceded him, without having any special relevance. Now, with this initiatory draw, to another group, those who did not win in their debut, which in recent years did not stand out for filling the showcases of the titles club with people like Mourinho, Benítez or … Lopetegui. However, Xabi has alibi. 15 days in office, 7 training and only 3 with the full team Complicate the task of a technician who has preferred to 'convent' in this minimum debut.
Trent defends less than Lucas
Xabi had no wicker, neither by quantity nor for quality, to display his idea of the game. 'You can't make tortilla without breaking the eggs' and before the Saudis that of Tolosa had no eggs to break because Carvajal's injuries, Militao, Rudiger or Alaba forced him to give up one of his most prominent identity features, the three line to the bottom. That is why its usual 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 became a defense of four that quickly evidenced a suspicion that the club and its media environment try to bleach: Alexander-Arnold defends less than the voluntary Lucas Vázquez. He does not defend, he has not defended and will not defend because he has offensive drive. The English was portrayed in the play of the goal annulled to Renan Lodi, where the rival side appeared only in the Courtois area to beat him. Trent was the player who lost the most duels and more balls delivered the rival, While the most passed in the final stretch of the field due to its offensive instinct. It is not lateral, it is a lane. And that condemns him when no one watches his back.
Alonso opted for a security approach, A more preventive proposal. The idea was to use the ball as firewalls, which explains that Alexander-Arnold and Fran García got inside to generate superiority at the exit and minimize the risks. With the towers playing alfiles, Tolosa was trusting in dominating the game. However, Real Madrid assaulted impatience. The players, the result of the vertical instinct that sharpened Ancelotti, were looking for passes that broke defensive lines instead of naturally waiting for the occasion to flow. Madrid tired of losing balls in the first part, in which only Ambidextro Huijsen offered a solvent performance. And in the high pressure the team worked in a discouragement, being danced by the good foot of the Al Hilal players. In the middle it was clear that ni Tchouameni, Good to cut, Nor Valverde are the 'Xabi' that Xabi is looking for. And Bellingham is still disoriented because playing to be Kroos stopped being Jude a long time ago.
Vinícius and Rodrygo are still disconnected
To the latter is added the disconnection of the Brazilians. Vinícius (40 interventions in 80 minutes) and Rodrygo (39 in 65) were the two players who intervened the team. The first only completed two of the five dribbles he tried and was admonished by a 'pool'. This disconnection is a luxury that cannot allow a Madrid with the sides inside and the open lanes for them. He justified a specialist of those who sprout as mushrooms for these dates that “Al Hilal shows work automatisms worked, while Real Madrid of Xabi Alonso cannot yet be asked.” They ignored tortically that was also Simone Inzaghi's first game on the Arab bench. The contingency, therefore, was similar.
Xabi added the fatality of the failed penalty. Which begins to be worrying because eL Real Madrid has wasted 7 of its last 19 releases from eleven meters with a striking list of pitchers: Mbappé (3), Vinícius (2), Bellingham and Valverde. No big in Europe has failed more maximum penalties in this period. More task for Xabi. Speaking of penalties, Raúl Asencio has already committed three in this 2025. “Avoidable”, he just pointed Xabi with a serious face.
ARDA IMPROVE THE TABLE
In the second part, the Basque withdrew the Canarian central delaying a tchouameni that has better ball treatment and delivered the baton to Arda in the middle. Madrid was winning with the Turk, from 45% possession of the first 60% assault in the second half. Symptom that was a trend when Modric stepped on the grass. The white funnel recovered more balls after the continuation and improved its image, but without seducing yet. And it goes without saying that Madrid needs a side, carrillero or whatever it is in the left wing, which made Fran García huge.
Rudiger insists on signing up to the Pachuca match and that is good news. Because At the time Xabi can recover his line from three, everything will begin to recover the meaning. Trent will stop looking for the rearview mirror, Huijsen will push the two media a few meters later and with it they will bring Bellingham to the area. Although the big problem remains that Xabi does not find his 'Xabi'. There is no Kroos, a Pirlo or a Pedri around which to celebrate football. And if Florentino wants txangurro or purchase Centol or Xabi will end up cooking a hake to the Donostiarra to save the file.