Los Blancos have shown promise under their new boss, but there are still some big changes to be made in the coming weeks
So, what do we make of all of this? Xabi Alonso is Real Madrid manager, the vibes look pretty good. He knows the club, has proved himself a top tactician, and has some of the best talent in the world at his disposal. Very few were expecting immediate success out of him, so a debut draw against Al-Hilal can certainly be forgiven.
But there wasn't a lot to cling onto in the performance. Dean Huijsen was really good at the back, but outside of him, no-one really stood out. Trent Alexander-Arnold didn't defend very well; Jude Bellingham spent a lot of time pointing and shouting; we are still waiting for Vinicius to come back "10 times if he has to".
It all points towards the fact that there's a lot of work to be done here. Madrid are still a good side, who will benefit from new ideas, a new manager and perhaps a couple more signings to bolster things. But they have made it clear in their transfer business thus far that they are here to win the Club World Cup. Some improvements, then, have to be immediate. And for all of the good vibes talk, and emphasis on "process", this is not a team that does well with waiting. GOAL looks at some of the improvements Alonso must make at the helm…
AFPFormation, formation, formation
Yep, we've heard this before. Alonso plays three at the back with two attacking midfielders and one central striker. It is a good thing, then, that Madrid have more than two consistently fit centre-backs, numerous attacking midfield options, and a proper No.9. Ironically, Alonso couldn't have walked into a worse-tailored squad for the system that worked so well for him at Bayer Leverkusen.
He has since ditched the doctrine of Ruben Amorim, and insisted that his team will be more about vibe, effort and structure than the exact positions of the 11 guys on the field. That's a fair assessment of things. Tactical principles tend to matter far more than formations these days. If Alonso wants effort, pressure and control, that is far more relevant than where Kylian Mbappe starts.
However, there has to be some sense to all of this. Fluidity is cool and fun, but not everyone can be fully interchangeable. So, he will need to figure out how he sets all of this up. Against Al-Hilal, Madrid started in a 4-3-3 before moving into more of a 3-4-3 in the second half. Neither really worked, and they were far too easily cut open by an inferior side throughout. There are some caveats here, considering injuries, fitness, and the fact that it was 100 degrees in Miami. But there needs to be a clearly established formation from here on out.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFigure out what the hell to do with Trent
Time for the fun debate: is it fair to say that signing Alexander-Arnold was a Florentino Perez "because I can" move? This transfer had clearly been in the works for some time. Trent, we now know, had been learning Spanish for months. He had been rejecting contract offers for just shy of a year. The man wanted to go to the Bernabeu.
But did he know who he was going to be playing for? And, more importantly, does the new guy want him? Alonso hasn't exactly been full of praise for Trent, offering only that "he has gone from less to more" after his underwhelming debut. The issue here is the fact that Trent was very, very good in a very, very specific system. Sure, his role changed here and there under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, but the German always knew how to bring the absolute best out of a world-class talent. Arne Slot did a similar thing at times – but also didn't mind utilising Connor Bradley when needed.
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Is Alonso in the same camp as Slot? He has been handed a supreme talent here. He makes infinite sense as a right-wing-back with cover behind him. But as a pure right-back there are undeniable defensive deficiencies that Madrid don't have the midfield nous to paper over. It's a good problem to have, but one that surely needs monitoring.
Getty Images SportGet the PR right
Carlo Ancelotti's genius at Real Madrid was that he always seemed to know the right thing to say. He could slam players when he needed to, and praise them when they deserved it. But ultimately, he kept the Madrid voodoo in place. This is a club that runs off financial power and relentless self belief – with some world-class footballers sprinkled in to hold it all together. Ancelotti got that, and will go down as one of Real's great managers for doing so.
But does Alonso understand? Certainly, he knows the pressure, but does he have the – as the kids say – 'aura' to make it all happen? That's unclear so far. Alonso has talked a lot about patience and "process", but those aren't words that fly in Madrid. This is an institution that demands results, and Alonso will simply to control the noise around the club – especially when the results aren't necessarily positive. Pachuca, in that sense, is a kind matchup in their next Club World Cup game. Real really should win. That will alleviate concerns and keep the streets happy, for now at least. Long-term, though, he will have to be a bit more defiant.
Getty Images SportGet Vini Jr cooking again
"I'll do it 10 times if I have to. They're not ready." Those were the words of Vinicius Jr after Rodri pipped him to the Ballon d'Or last year. And, well, we're still waiting.
Vinicius has been maddeningly inconsistent for the past nine months, and clearly has no real idea how to play with Mbappe. That is going to be a tactical issue that Alonso will have to figure out. But perhaps more concerning is the fact that Vinicius doesn't quite look himself when he has the ball. Everything is a bit slower and less expressive. He backed out of a few 1v1s against Al-Hilal, and was pocketed by Joao Cancelo, who he had ripped apart on numerous occasions in previous matchups.
There is clearly a link here. Theoretically, Trent can play those long diagonal balls right onto his right toe, and Vinicius will work his magic. But making a player that he can win all of his individual battles is a proper challenge. On his day, Vinicius is the best footballer in the world. Alonso has to find a way to make him remember that.