The hours following the crushing defeat against the Colchoneros were very intense for Madrid. Shocked and stunned by this result, which they clearly did not expect, the pro-Merengue press understandably fired broadsides at the majority of the squad's players, with the exception of a few players like Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler. But if there was one man who took a hit, it was Xabi Alonso, criticized for many of his choices and tactically attacked by his counterpart Diego Simeone. With the reactions and in-the-moment analyses of the first few hours now behind us, the time has come to take a more measured stocktake, and it's clear that there is cause for concern.
Xabi Alonso is not true to his principles
More than the final result or the content of the match, it was Xabi Alonso's choices that disconcerted many observers. Since his arrival on the Madrid bench, the Basque has constantly insisted that there will be no preferential treatment, that the best will play, relying on principles such as work and meritocracy. But clearly, the actions of the former Leverkusen player do not go in this direction. It is therefore difficult to explain why Franco Mastantuono, who has been excellent in recent matches, did not start the match, while Jude Bellingham was there at kickoff despite being in less than optimal physical condition. Just as Arda Güler's exit so early in the match, when he was perhaps the best player on the pitch and the Englishman or Fede Valverde did not contribute much, surprised everyone. We can see that in important moments, Alonso follows the guidelines of Carlo Ancelotti and prefers to rely on names rather than the current level of each player.
What is the game plan?
Another question that we can ask ourselves: what is Xabi Alonso's real game plan? For the moment, it's difficult to answer this question. Not everything is to be thrown away, of course, and we see, for example, that the former great midfielder of La Roja has managed to find the ideal role for Kylian Mbappé, just as he manages to put players like Güler or Mastantuono in the best conditions. It is also true that the fashion today is for somewhat hybrid teams, capable of depriving the opponent of the ball or of falling back and launching lightning attacks, like PSG and Barça. But generally speaking, no clear guiding principle emerges from this Real Madrid with Alonso's sauce, which gives the impression of depending solely on the individual brilliance of its players, as was often the case in previous seasons. Here too, given the promises of the off-season, we were clearly entitled to expect something other than a game plan based on giving the ball to Mbappé and hoping for a feat.
A defensive sector in decline
Last season, the defense was already the team's main weak point. The club therefore invested in strengthening this rearguard, and it's clear that, whether individually or collectively, there hasn't been much progress in big matches. Until now, the capital club had faced very approachable opponents, including two promoted teams, and we had already seen some shortcomings in terms of collective alignment and marking. Against the Colchoneros, the Madridistas took on water at all levels. On the wings, where they were overwhelmed, unable to contain the arrival of Rojiblancos players from the second lines. And in the penalty area, where they were unable to respond to the physical challenge posed by Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth in particular. And that's very worrying in view of the big European meetings and the Clasicos.
The state of mind poses a question
Franco Mastantuono's outburst, when, enraged, he launched a missile towards the stands, was praised by many Madrid fans. And for good reason: it was the only act of character we saw from the Merengues during this match. We saw an apathetic team, lacking in personality, easily moved, who even gave the impression at times of being complacent about this defeat. There were no players to pull the team up, to harangue his troops, and very little intensity on the pitch overall. Many in Madrid miss the era of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Toni Kroos, players of character who didn't hesitate to step up. Clearly, this Real Madrid seems to lack personality and leadership, and that could be costly.
Players far from their best
Of course, Xabi Alonso isn't responsible for all the team's problems, and while the criticism leveled at him since the humiliation seems justified, the players are also to be blamed. While Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras have missed out but are having a decent start to the season, and Courtois remains a sure bet despite his mediocre performance against his former club, other cases are more worrying. Vinicius Jr., for example, is far from his best, and Real Madrid will need the best version of the Brazilian to achieve their goals. This is the case with Fede Valverde, for example, an indispensable and undisputed player in recent years but who is struggling at the moment. The Bellingham case is also likely to start raising questions, and generally speaking, the midfield raises a lot of questions since, while Aurelien Tchouameni hasn't been bad so far, he took on water against the first serious opponent. Currently, Real Madrid does not have many players who provide real guarantees.
Physical glitches, again and again
Like in previous seasons, it looks like Madrid will have to deal with physical problems. This was Xabi Alonso's main concern when he took charge of the team, to the point where he brought in an entire staff with him in the hope of reversing the trend of recent years. But for now, it's complicated. The season has just started and the defense is practically decimated, with Militao, Carvajal, Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold currently injured. In midfield, several players are also quite injury-prone , like Eduardo Camavinga. This is a very important factor to take into account for the coming months...
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