The ten-point list of Xabi Alonso's first Real Madrid: surprises, disappointments, and a lot of work to do.

Real Madrid had a dull debut at the Club World Cup , in a match where they were unable to go beyond a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal . There was a lot of excitement about seeing the Whites, especially after Xabi Alonso took over , but the limited time he's had to work hasn't allowed him to make many changes. It's true that some different elements have been seen, but also some dynamics that weren't as popular last season.

It wasn't the best testing ground for the Tolosarra, as he had to play his first match in the middle of preseason, with barely enough time to get to know his players , let the signings acclimatize, or for the squad to understand the new dynamics. So, without being able to go into too much depth due to the lack of a sample, we can give a brief outline of what we saw from Xabi Alonso . There were surprises, but also disappointments and a lot of work ahead.

It's not easy for Madrid to face a tournament like this. A team that arrives without major titles, forced to present a good image, with a change of coach, and having to compete in a championship across two seasons , with almost no rest for its players. And, if that weren't enough, high temperatures and high humidity. But many of these conditions are the same for almost all teams , so excuses must be put aside if they want to be competitive.

The powerful message with Gonzalo

The most striking message was the presence of Gonzalo in the starting eleven . Until now, the dynamic was different: if a player was unavailable, instead of putting in his natural replacement, the most talented player on the bench would come on , even if that meant changing several pieces of the eleven and relocating them. The big surprise was the message that Xabi sent with Gonzalo , who didn't let him down: a goal and a great game from a player who played the whole 90 minutes, the only one in attack. The Tolosa native confirmed that he wants to have a box player no matter what and, without Mbappé or Endrick , no inventions or strange solutions: a normal striker who can hunt down balls and create chances.

Same problems: missing a creator

If the best news for Madrid was Xabi's bravery with Gonzalo , the worst was seeing the same problems as last season repeat themselves . There isn't a player in the squad capable of carrying the ball from defense to attack reliably, without blocking the rest of the team and organizing the pieces with the ball. This results in a lack of fluidity, an insufficient distribution of play , and a lack of advantages in attacking positions. If we add to that the team's excessively static play, where everyone wants it at their feet, the conclusion is clear: against well-organized teams, Madrid goes all in on quality. And it doesn't always work out.

The relocation of Arda Güler

It seems clear that, in the absence of signings, the solution for Madrid's midfield lies with Arda Güler . The Turk is, without a doubt, the most technically savvy player and with the greatest clairvoyance in the final pass of the Madrid team, which makes him a key player . Against Al-Hilal, he was the one who made Madrid change its face in the second half, allowing his team to understand the game much better and get into better attacking positions . The problem is that he loses some firepower, as Güler's left foot is a cannon and, by dropping him twenty meters back, he loses arrival. But, if he manages to unlock the Madrid's game, it will be an acceptable loss .

But the biggest disappointment was discovering that nothing has changed in the team's work. Total apathy from many players for long stretches of the game. Players like Vinícius , Rodrygo , and Bellingham continue to show complete disengagement when it comes to running back. When a team is hungry, it fights, struggles, and moves in unison. In this Madrid, it feels like each player is still fighting on their own , there's not much focus on recovering, and, even worse, there are players who don't seem to have much desire to change their style. There seems to be a serious attitude problem within the squad.

Particularly glaring is the case of Vinícius, who, after a disappointing year, seems to have seen nothing change . Not even the momentum he should have shown with the arrival of a new coach has made him react and demonstrate his commitment. The problem with Real Madrid's attack lies not only in the obvious drop in offensive production, which, except for Mbappé , was evident last season, but also in what they offer in defense: no one presses high , there is no recovery after losing the ball, and opponents play excessively calmly when releasing the ball. And the Brazilian is the best example that these disconnections are not positive.

Huijsen, the best news

Dean Huijsen's debut was truly excellent , as he offered exactly what you'd expect from a player of his quality. A solid defensive performance, excellent anticipation, and, above all, a clean ball delivery. He was one of the few players who broke through the lines against Al-Hilal , driving the ball with control and advancing many yards to create chances. Furthermore, his long-range passing is going to be a gem that Madrid will get a lot of use out of. Perhaps he should improve his intensity in some divided balls , where he sometimes errs on the side of quality rather than being more expeditious.

Trent needs more adaptation

A different case was Alexander-Arnold , who, while not having a bad game , didn't stand out excessively in any area. We saw small glimpses of what he could become, but it's true that he gave the impression of playing with the handbrake on, trying to minimize errors. When he reaches his peak form, he'll be a knife-edge on the right wing, where attacking players can benefit from his glove on his right leg. He was seen on several occasions playing inside, which could be a new solution for Madrid, with that inverted full-back who can find internal lanes to open up the opposing defense.

It is strange that, in the final moments of the match, when Madrid was looking to turn the score around, Xabi's two options were Luka Modric and Lucas Vázquez , two players who will leave the team after the World Cup. Not because of their quality or experience, but because of the fact that they are giving minutes to players whose time is running out instead of the numerous youth players they have brought in... or Dani Ceballos . It was very strange that the Andalusian didn't get a single minute in Madrid, a sign that something is wrong with the Utrera native. Perhaps that "I need a conversation before deciding my future" didn't please Xabi before the start of the competition.

Some anarchy in the team

It's clear that there are still inherited problems from the previous era , but the most obvious is how Madrid has stopped playing like a team . There are no automatisms or acquired dynamisms, so each player acts as they understand they should. Currently, any team that is not working is a lesser team, no matter how much quality its players have. That's something Xabi must emphasize in a major way : if a player thinks that, because he's very good, he shouldn't run, he's wrong. And, what's worse, with that attitude, he can't be an undisputed starter in a Real Madrid team.

More interventionist coach

The good news for Madrid is that Xabi Alonso isn't one of those coaches who just stand still while things aren't going well . It's just one game, and therefore the conclusions that can be drawn are still far from dogma. There's still plenty of room for improvement and work, but the Tolosarra native must get to work as soon as possible. Time is short and the competition continues, so if Madrid wants to turn things around at the Club World Cup , the players need to understand what the coach is asking of them without delay . And, more importantly, everyone needs to have complete faith in their new manager's plan.