Reality check for Alonso as Real Madrid make lacklustre Club World Cup start
MIAMI GARDENS: Xabi Alonso's glittering Real Madrid playing career offered no protection for their new coach against the harsh spotlight of expectation on Wednesday, as they laboured to a deflating 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener.
The result laid bare the task facing the 43-year-old Spaniard, who will be expected to conjure instant success after swapping Bayer Leverkusen for the pressure cooker of 15-time European champions Madrid.
"We know things take time, we need to correct a few details, everything takes time it's been only nine days of work for me here," Alonso told a press conference after watching his depleted squad struggle against opponents they were expected to dispatch with ease.
With captain Dani Carvajal and centre backs Antonio Ruediger and Eder Militao absent, Real's defensive fragility was exposed despite the summer additions of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The former Liverpool player looked particularly uncomfortable, failing to provide his trademark attacking threat while repeatedly being exposed by Al-Hilal's marauding Brazilian fullback Renan Lodi.
A clumsy penalty conceded by Raul Asencio compounded Real's defensive woes, allowing the Saudi side to cancel out academy product Gonzalo Garcia's opener.
Forced to innovate without the ill Kylian Mbappe and injured Brazilian teenager Endrick, Alonso's attacking options were limited.
The 21-year-old Gonzalo, thrust into the spotlight, scored once but spurned several opportunities that could have settled the contest.
Tactically, Alonso appeared to defer to Real Madrid tradition by abandoning the three-centre-back formation that defined his Leverkusen success, instead deploying a 4-3-3 reminiscent of Ancelotti's reign.
One bright spot was Jude Bellingham's deeper, more central role, stepping into the creative void left by Toni Kroos's retirement a year ago.
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo also showed flashes of threat, but ended up succumbing to the sweltering Miami heat.
With Mexican side Pachuca looming on Sunday before a final group clash with RB Salzburg, Alonso faces a race against time to impose his vision on a squad accustomed to immediate success.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Real Madrid star Mbappe hospitalised with stomach bug
REAL Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is being treated in hospital in the United States after suffering a stomach bug, the Spanish giants said on Thursday. 'Our player Kylian Mbappe is suffering from an acute case of gastroenteritis and has been admitted to hospital in order to undergo a series of tests and follow the appropriate course of treatment,' said Los Blancos in a statement. French striker Mbappe missed Real Madrid's Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw in Xabi Alonso's first game at the helm. Alonso said on Tuesday the 26-year-old forward had been 'feeling a little better' after illness in the run up to the match in Miami. Madrid B-team player Gonzalo Garcia, 21, started in Mbappe's stead and opened the scoring for Real Madrid against their Saudi Arabian opponents. Madrid's second match in Group H is on Sunday June 22 against Mexican side Pachuca in Charlotte. Mbappe finished as the European Golden Shoe winner in his first season at Real Madrid with 31 goals in La Liga, but Los Blancos finished the season without a major trophy.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Crespo returns for second spell as Sao Paulo coach
Soccer Football - Intercontinental Cup - Second Round - Al Ahly v Al Ain - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - October 29, 2024 Al Ain coach Hernan Crespo REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo (Reuters) -Hernan Crespo has returned to Sao Paulo as coach, four years after leading them to the Brazilian Serie A championship, the club said on Wednesday. Former Argentina striker Crespo, who represented Chelsea, Inter Milan and AC Milan among other European clubs as a player, replaced compatriot Luis Zubeldia who parted ways with Sao Paulo after winning only two of their first 12 league games. "(Crespo) is a great professional who already knows the club, has won a title here and the time has come for him to return. We're delighted to have him back," club president Julio Casares said in a statement. The 49-year-old's first spell as Sao Paulo coach ended in October 2021, less than five months after winning the league, following a disappointing start to their title defence. Crespo led Emirati club Al-Ain to the Asian Champions League Elite title in May last year, earning them a place at the ongoing Club World Cup. He was sacked in November following a poor run of results. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Reality check for Alonso as Real Madrid make lacklustre Club World Cup start
MIAMI GARDENS: Xabi Alonso's glittering Real Madrid playing career offered no protection for their new coach against the harsh spotlight of expectation on Wednesday, as they laboured to a deflating 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener. The result laid bare the task facing the 43-year-old Spaniard, who will be expected to conjure instant success after swapping Bayer Leverkusen for the pressure cooker of 15-time European champions Madrid. "We know things take time, we need to correct a few details, everything takes time it's been only nine days of work for me here," Alonso told a press conference after watching his depleted squad struggle against opponents they were expected to dispatch with ease. With captain Dani Carvajal and centre backs Antonio Ruediger and Eder Militao absent, Real's defensive fragility was exposed despite the summer additions of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The former Liverpool player looked particularly uncomfortable, failing to provide his trademark attacking threat while repeatedly being exposed by Al-Hilal's marauding Brazilian fullback Renan Lodi. A clumsy penalty conceded by Raul Asencio compounded Real's defensive woes, allowing the Saudi side to cancel out academy product Gonzalo Garcia's opener. Forced to innovate without the ill Kylian Mbappe and injured Brazilian teenager Endrick, Alonso's attacking options were limited. The 21-year-old Gonzalo, thrust into the spotlight, scored once but spurned several opportunities that could have settled the contest. Tactically, Alonso appeared to defer to Real Madrid tradition by abandoning the three-centre-back formation that defined his Leverkusen success, instead deploying a 4-3-3 reminiscent of Ancelotti's reign. One bright spot was Jude Bellingham's deeper, more central role, stepping into the creative void left by Toni Kroos's retirement a year ago. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo also showed flashes of threat, but ended up succumbing to the sweltering Miami heat. With Mexican side Pachuca looming on Sunday before a final group clash with RB Salzburg, Alonso faces a race against time to impose his vision on a squad accustomed to immediate success.
