Passing Mastermind to Tactical Maestro – The Xabi Alonso Era Begins

Discussion in 'Real Madrid' started by Aensensen, May 25, 2025.

  1. Xourtois

    Xourtois Member

    Liverpool FC
    England
    Sep 25, 2024
    Ancelotti's tactics were extremely bad last season but I think it had to be some very lazy level trainings for Courtois to hit out like this.

    He kind of confirmed what we saw on the pitch last season.

    Also agree that this can't be an excuse for long, may be for a month maximum. Xabi will have to show his own work in that time frame. Let's see.
     
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  2. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    I am glad we hired him as an advisor for excellent training considering the amount of trophies he won in teams that aren't coached by Ancelotti.

    He clearly knows his stuff there. Been coached by the best, how could he work with somebody like Carlo?

    Tibo is the best goalkeeper I could wish for, but he forgot that he was a black hole when he joined us and nobody kicked him while he was down. Now THAT'S an experience he could learn from.
     
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  3. Xourtois

    Xourtois Member

    Liverpool FC
    England
    Sep 25, 2024
    He didn't win much last season.

    He was clearly frustrated by last season coaching. Which is why he is lashing out.
     
  4. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Which is why i said, keep the same energy. If we don't win this season either, have at it long neck, give Xabi hell? What the hell is this sh*t even.


    It's like being professional isn't even required at this club anymore.
     
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  5. arcane

    arcane Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    Philippines
    Amazing how Xabi manages to field a four man backline on paper, only to become an actual back 3 during buildup in the game :D
     
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  6. Xourtois

    Xourtois Member

    Liverpool FC
    England
    Sep 25, 2024
    His quote when asked about back line formation was also interesting. He said at the moment he don't have enough center backs to play 3 CB at back, meaning he would try it if he has enough.
     
  7. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Quote Champion 2025/26

    It's funny because I had a discussion with somebody yesterday and he said "no matter what video you show, what stats you collect, what you tell Vinicius, you're not going to make him be Iniesta".

    What Alonso wants and what he's going to do are two different things most likely, mostly because the players he works with are who they are. At that point of their career, few players reinvent themselves.
     
  8. Xourtois

    Xourtois Member

    Liverpool FC
    England
    Sep 25, 2024
    Of course one would take what is coming from Xabis mouth as very important information. Not the random Carlo widows fans views on what Xabi wants to achieve especially considering how salty they have been with even past players talking about Carlo.

    Kudos to Courtois for talking the truth. He don't have to care for what some guys think about him on a forum.
     
  9. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    You ever heard of talk is cheap?

    As I said, when Courtois joined he was getting destroyed, I bet he would've appreciate somebody from his team coming out saying "if this guy doesn't play like a cripple back there we win, but he needs time", huh? Since he's all about that honesty.
     
  10. fierro

    fierro Member+

    Jan 30, 2007
    El Chuco
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    It's because he needs a positional coach, someone like Iker or Bodo Illgner should do the trick. There was never any need to switch Xabi with Carlo.





    Courtois played for Simeone and Atletico. I don't think Florentino wants the club to replicate the work being done across town but reading some of the comments from fans and players....

    Let's just look at Simeone compared to some of the feedback on Xabi:

    • High energy with lots of screaming and hand waving - check.
    • Disciplinarian who's not afraid to talk like a tough guy - check.
    • Unmistakable rigid tactical system that focuses on defensive solidarity - check.
     
  11. benny_madridista

    Real Madrid
    Nov 30, 2020
    They both drink water too.
     
  12. fierro

    fierro Member+

    Jan 30, 2007
    El Chuco
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Unfortunately quotes like this will only shorten Xabi's honey moon period and increasse the level of expectations.

    As it is he has to win a treble next season in order to be better manager than Carlo.
     
  13. arcane

    arcane Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    Philippines
    No, not really. Winning a double while being able to make Mbappe and Vini work will already be an achievement Carlo failed to do.
     
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  14. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    ?


    Let's be completely honest. "Failed" is a word I don't associate with Ancelotti AT ALL. Any other club, the coach that delivers this many trophies gets a stadium section named after him.

    Let's be a bit more aware.
     
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  15. arcane

    arcane Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    Philippines
    Did he he succeed in solving the Vini-Mbappe puzzle? I'm not talking about team success which I am sure you were pivoting to. In which nobody would disagree he had plenty of.

    Take your own advice, Let's be a bit more aware.
     
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  16. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    It's not a puzzle, both guys just went through periods where they simply didn't play well.

    For all their "compatibility issues" they looked just the way they looked in our kit when they played for their national team, under more familiar circumstances.

    Xabi will have to succeed over multiple years to even be in a discussion to compare himself with Carlo. Let's not become ridiculous.
     
  17. arcane

    arcane Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    Philippines
    #692 arcane, Jun 21, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2025
    The answer we were all looking for is no.

    Not even close. And he had a year to work on that in practice and on the field. If Xabi manages to achieve that, while winning, he would have solved a problem even the great Ancelotti had problems with. That is a feat on any manager's resume.

    Sorry, but this excuse of they simply didn't play well for periods isn't entirely accurate They literally had problems occupying the same spaces.

    Again, we are not talking overall career. Carlo has that in spades.
     
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  18. MadridUSA

    MadridUSA Member

    Dec 2, 2013
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Could you please not use Jesus’ name like that? Many of us wince when you do so.
     
  19. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Not sure if serious.
     
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  20. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    The issue is on the players. I don't expect Xabi to babysit grown men.
     
  21. MadridUSA

    MadridUSA Member

    Dec 2, 2013
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    #696 MadridUSA, Jun 21, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2025
    Serious. Is that like not a thing anymore in Germany? It is in the US, which tends to be less aware of longstanding cultural customs.

    I’m not trying to call you out or be a jerk or anything. Just letting you know that there are both Christians and Muslims on this board who would probably appreciate if you used other terms instead.
     
  22. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    In italy people use madonna mia practically all day every day about anything. Different cultures have different customs.

    Considering i'm not using anything in a derogatory fashion, this feels like invasion in my right of expression, but i'll think about it, just for you.
     
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  23. arcane

    arcane Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    Philippines
    Who' said he would have to babysit? Nice straw-man. Doesn’t the coach build structure and manage the players to maximize their potential? So what was Carlo doing when he kept changing how the players moved around the pitch? Was he babysitting?
     
  24. 4x4s

    4x4s Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 26, 2006
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    So in your opinion Xabi was hired to fundamentally change the way two players in their prime play football?

    I feel like if you want a coach to succeed you don't force him to solve any puzzle. If one of the two players mentioned doesn't fit with the other, it should be open for the coach to only work with one of them as his primary option.

    But we both know that's not how this job works.
     
  25. arcane

    arcane Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    Philippines
    Another strawman. Keep this up and you'de probably build a haystack made of it.

    Who said he was hired to FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE WAY THE WAY TWO PLAYERS IN THEIR PRIME PLAYED FOOTBALL?

    Let me aswer that for you. You did 4x4s. Another false assertion.

    What I said was for the coach to build structure and manage the players to maximize their potential.

    Unless you want to continue the low iq argument that that isn't a coach's job, be my guest.
     

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