Xabi Alonso’s new-look Real Madrid aiming for Club World Cup glory

MADRID – After Real Madrid’s hopes of major silverware this season faded, the Club World Cup took on far greater importance for them and it will provide an insight into new coach Xabi Alonso’s strategy.

The 43-year-old Spaniard replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm and, along with new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, adds a fresh look to a team who emerged battered and bruised from a domestic season dominated by bitter rivals Barcelona.

Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Alonso may deploy his favoured 3-4-3 formation which would give England international Alexander-Arnold an important role on the right flank.

Recent Spain debutant Huijsen also bolsters a backline which has been badly hit by injuries the past season.

Real still have several players sidelined, including Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga, but some may be able to make their return during the tournament in the United States.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to have shoulder surgery after Real’s participation ends which they hope is after they have been crowned champions.

Their title ambitions is why they paid a reported £10 million (S$17.4 million) to sign Alexander-Arnold early, as his Liverpool contract was due to end on June 30.

In Group H, Real’s campaign begins against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami, before meeting Mexican outfit Pachuca in Charlotte on June 22.

Alonso’s team then face Austria’s RB Salzburg in Philadelphia on June 26 in their final group game.

Al-Hilal may be a tougher proposition than many expect, having recently appointed Simone Inzaghi as coach after he guided Inter Milan to the Champions League final.

With a squad full of well-known names, including Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly, Al-Hilal will believe in their chances of causing an upset.

Pachuca have former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon leading the line but are seen as the weakest team in the group.

Real beat them 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup in December, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr all on target.

Real also thrashed Salzburg 5-1 in January in the Champions League group phase, although the record 15-time winners were dumped out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Ancelotti suggested in 2024 that top clubs including Real would skip the Club World Cup but was forced to backtrack, and with the winners bagging as much as US$125 million (S$160 million), victory is important.

After Barcelona reclaimed La Liga on the way to wrapping up a domestic treble, beating Real four times in the process, Real would also welcome some sporting success to raise morale before the new campaign.

Some of the same problems that Ancelotti could not solve are in Alonso’s in-tray and the Club World Cup is the first chance for him to address them.

The Italian complained about a lack of balance because of the top-heavy attack, and Alonso has already suggested Bellingham will be used in a deeper role than previously.

A classy midfielder at Real and Liverpool in his playing days, Alonso must find a way of playing both Vinicius and Mbappe without causing his team too many problems at the back.

Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold said on June 12 he joined the “only” team he would have considered leaving Liverpool for.

The 26-year-old right-back, who described his move to Real as “a dream come true” in a speech he delivered in Spanish at his official presentation, added at the press conference: “It was never a question of where, it was whether to go or not to go.

“I always knew... if I was to ever leave Liverpool, it would only be to go to Real Madrid, that would be the only club for me,” he said.

Alexander-Arnold, who added that he is thrilled to link up with Real coach and former Liverpool player Alonso, will wear the No. 12 shirt at Real as Spanish football regulations prohibit him from using his Liverpool number, 66.

He will display his first name, “Trent”, on his shirt, saying it is easier to understand for Spanish speakers.

His supreme passing range may help Real overcome the loss of Croatian veteran Luka Modric, who will leave them after the Club World Cup. AFP