Reality check for Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid make lacklustre Club World Cup start
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Real Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty.
PHOTO: AFP
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MIAMI – Xabi Alonso’s glittering Real Madrid playing career offered no protection for their new coach against the harsh spotlight of expectation on June 18, 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 swopping Bayer Leverkusen for the pressure cooker of 15-time European champions Real.
“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 Rudiger and Eder Militao absent, Real’s defensive fragility was exposed, despite the 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 Garcia, thrust into the spotlight, scored once but missed several opportunities that could have settled the contest.
Tactically, Alonso appeared to defer to Real tradition by abandoning the three-centre-back formation that defined his Leverkusen success, instead deploying a 4-3-3 reminiscent of his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti’s reign.
One bright spot was Jude Bellingham’s deeper, more central role, stepping into the creative void left by Toni Kroos’ retirement a year ago.
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo also showed flashes of attacking threat, but ended up succumbing to the sweltering Miami heat.
Gonzalo Garcia scores to put Real Madrid 1-0 up.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi, who was also taking charge of his new club for the first time, said that it was a “very good game”.
“The lads played with great organisation and personality against what I consider one of the three strongest teams in the world. I couldn’t have asked for more,” the former Inter Milan coach said.
On the quality of Arabic football, he added: “People are starting to realise the level is rising. I’ve found a club here with organisation, ambition and players hungry to compete.
“The game was tough with the heat and humidity, but the players handled it superbly.”
With Pachuca looming on June 22 before a final Group H clash with Red Bull Salzburg, Alonso faces a race against time to impose his vision on a squad accustomed to immediate success.
He hinted on June 18 that Mbappe was doubtful for the game against the Mexican side, who had lost 2-1 to Salzburg.
Mbappe missed a training session on June 17 after suffering from a viral infection and failed to recover in time for the Al-Hilal clash.
The Spanish club said on June 19 that the French striker had been admitted to hospital after suffering from gastroenteritis.
A club source told Reuters that the 26-year-old, who was taken to hospital on June 18, had been isolated from his teammates since the previous day and was considered out of the group stage of the Club World Cup. REUTERS, AFP
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso (left) heading to the locker room at the end of the first half.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
