A New Frontier To Conquer - The 2025 Club World Cup Thread

I think the writing is on the wall.....I think he's gone....unless he was injured.

 

It was also the role he had last season before his injury. When he came back, he was stuck on the wings like superglue. Made his half as effective.

Took Xabi until the cooling break to remove him from that role. I appreciate that.

 

Now that Real Madrid has Huijsen, I think it's time Rudiger and Huijsen partner up for good. Asencio is an imbecile and ill-disciplined. He has had 3-4 games in a row where he adversely affected proceedings, including the CdR final.

I absolutely do not want Asencio playing anymore. He's an idiotic moron with shit for brains. No wonder he got caught up in a criminal porno trail.

CUT HIM LOOSE.

 

There’s two options that will be safest and would work best imo, we either continue to play him as a LW but there needs to be a drastic shift in chemistry with his striker partner Mbappe, or we play him a lot more centrally like in 23-24 where he played as the left inside forward.

If he continues at LW and the chemistry with Mbappe isn’t clicking like it did with Benz then I can’t see him at his best again in that position as he’s too isolated.

I think your idea was to playing him as a right inside forward like where Rodrygo played in 23-24, which isn’t too dissimilar.

 

He has been impressive to me under Xabi. A lot of energy and he hustles for the ball. There may yet be a lot to come from him!

 

I think he will be a top 5 CB in the world in 2 seasons.

 

Dude is too much of a dumbass to even be a 3rd choice.

 

Xabi Alonso: “Raúl Asencio? Early in the game you need to take a chance, not make a foul for the red card. We will talk, he’s still young and this is an experience to think about for the future"

Xabi Alonso: “Our approach with 10 men, how to defend and attack had to change. It’s a stressful situation to play with 10 men but we played well.”

Jude Bellingham: "The heat is insane. It's very hard to play in it, but it's the same for all teams, so it is what it is. Vamos."

Jude Bellingham: "Xabi Alonso talks to me a lot everyday. He has very clear ideas on how to attack and how to defend, he's an incredible coach, and I'm so happy with him."

 

Fede Valverde: "Little by little, we're giving Coach Xabi what he's asking from us.

The team is very united."

Fede Valverde: "I was devastated the other day for missing the penalty and not giving my team the win."

 

We already have Mbappe in the middle though

 

Imagine if Fede scores that Pen. Real Madrid could've rest easy that Qualification was secured. Now it comes down to gameday 3 for the team.

 

I think central with distribution responsibilities makes use of his entire skillset. Being Mbappe's butler can work, but he just seems very comfortable in the middle.

 

Juve/City in R16 so gotta hit peak form by then. Beat Salzburg in a must win game.

 

You can have two occupy the middle.

I'm sick of seeing the 3 man offense.

 

And he doesn't have any "discomforts"

 

On his way out?

 

🚨 Xabi Alonso: "Racist insult against Rudiger? That's what Rudiger said, and we believe him.

Now FIFA is investigating.

It's unacceptable." pic.twitter.com/38YwLEf1rP

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 22, 2025

Xabi Alonso: "Racist insult against Rudiger? That's what Rudiger said, and we believe him. Now FIFA is investigating. It's unacceptable."

 

Another CB to partner up with Huijsen might not be a bad idea.

Personally, I have little faith in Rudiger. Militao and Alaba are done imo.

Let's see how this CWC shapes up.

 

Last year with 10 men we would have parked the bus, against any opponent. Now we kept our composure, trying to create chances and still win the game. Little by little Xabi’s influence is seen on the pitch.

 

Probably asked for a transfer.

 

Also the midfield is better with spaces. We don't see players with the ball on an island. We see other players move to give the ball career options. I like how they also arent afraid to dribble in tight spaces.

Xabi has definitely improved this team already, and it has only been 2 matches played. I am super hyped to see this team when Xabi has all his ideas fully drilled into them.

Huge improvement over last season, where everyone seemed lost.

 

I agree...very doubtful on the ability of those 3 to play at the required level going forward. If by some miracle we can let Alaba go, and we make some big sales, the club should drop money on a top CB to partner Huijsen immediately.

 

not Rudiger’s fault in the fight. Their number 22 kept coming back to him again and again and even after the final whistle. It was the other guy that kept coming back to try to fight him.