Passing Mastermind to Tactical Maestro – The Xabi Alonso Era Begins

🚨 Xabi Alonso in training today: "Fight, move, fight, PRESS, PRESS..." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZKSk38Thvt

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 13, 2025

Xabi Alonso in training today: "Fight, move, fight, PRESS, PRESS..."

 

Unfortunately addressing the wrong players

 

So if we hypothetically install PSGs entire management to Real Madrid, they will most likely win half of the UCLs in the next decade while avoiding being in the red financially without state money? Because apperently they did it better than Perez 10x over.

 

Nice try trying to move goal post.

When the entire thread I am discussing about philosophical and tactical dissimilarity of XABI and late sacked husband Carlo , widow bring this.

Keep the tears in Carlo thread. We move with Xabi.

 

Agree completely. Xabi is a proper tactical coach. Even training methods screams tactical coach. A completely different method to Ancelotti. Trying to paint Xabi as some continuation of another coach is the laziest conclusion I have seen here.

 

Mbappe was in training today lol

 

I hope Xabi is successful. He truly seems like a nice and intelligent man. Hopefully, the team absorbs his methods. We can't win UCL matches by running half the distance our opponents do, unless we're dominating, which hasn't happened in a while.

 

He will definitely need to push each individual to work and participate in the defensive game, but it will all be in vain if it’s not done within a cohesive tactical setup.

 

A question: wasn’t Rafa Benitez a purely tactical coach?

 

I think we have the quality to where he will get going right away. I expect us to win something this upcoming season.

 

There is no guarantee though.

That is my other issue I raised here a couple weeks ago. The same crowd who is piling on Ancelotti are the same ones who usually want the manager fired by November then beat their chest like they're a starter when we win trophies in April and May.

It's too much pressure to pile on a guy. Let Xabi figure things out and show patience while he does. Don't just expect things to be perfect and when the second they don't abandon ship.

 

I think Benitez was just mediocre regardless of style. Never had what it takes to be a Madrid coach.

 

If we play well, with a defined identity, structure and coherence, I honestly don't mind if in the first season he only manages a CL spot and nothing else. Its the process that matters.

 

I never understood how someone so mediocre ended up coaching the best team in the world

not only does he suck but he’s conflictive

crazy

 

He wasn't regarded as mediocre coming from his successful stints with Valencia and Liverpool.

 

He came after his Napoli stint here, which didn't go all that well.

 

he was mediocre

 

He won multiple La Ligas and a UEFA Cup with Valencia [haven't won either since then]; then won every trophy except the EPL for Liverpool. Won them the coveted UCL, the last they won it was 21 years earlier.

He was not a bad option at the time, his only problem was that he was a calmer Mourinho-like manager and he was on the decline. Hence he preferred defensive discipline over attacking flair. And that would never go down well with the fans.

 

He was crap and hated every minute of him being here.

 

We get that; not every coach fits Real Madrid.

But when people call him 'so mediocre' that's bullshit. He has won multiple trophies wherever he went. He may not be everyone's 'cup of tea' due to his defensive style, but he's not mediocre. That's like calling Capello or Marcello Lippi mediocre simply because you hate their football ideology.

 

By that logic, we got a mediocre Ancelotti.

 

Benitez was washed by 2009-10. So getting him in 2015 was a big mistake.

2014-15 was the last relevant season of Mou as a top level coach too.

 

yeah his accomplishments had long passed and he was already known to be a bit of a toxic guy. Hes combative