Passing Mastermind to Tactical Maestro – The Xabi Alonso Era Begins

Of course he was hired to win. Thank you Captain obvious. Was there any other Real manager in the last 20 years who wasn't hired to win?

Maybe we should also discuss how Dean was brought to play defense.

He will be expected to start those two almost every game ergo he is "encouraged" to make it work. Or do you believe that he has any leeway to bench either of them for long stretches?

 

Man... you win games by solving the puzzle of Vini and Mbappe. Whats the contradiction here?

 

But that's the reality is it?

Otherwise you are only contradicting your own opinions on how star players operate in the club.

 

The only funny thing I see here is the narrowminded view that Dean was only bought because he is good at distribution.

 

It is a puzzle nonetheless that he needs to solve. Given their individual quality in a vacuum, the objective should be to make them work together. I don't know whats so controversial about this, unless the underlying argument is that their cooperation is beyond the job description and/or ability of a coach and they just need to figure it out on their own, which then takes us back to the whole "what is a coach supposed to do in this place" argument.

 

Hey don't get frustrated now because your points get debunked one by one.

Perhaps you should actually be careful what you post because I can read and analyze to make counter arguments. You like to make strawman arguments and argue with that strawman.

You just literally posted: Funny because I was talking to somebody today and said that we didn't sign the guy because of how good of a defender he is, but because of how good he can distribute at the level, he's, to paraphrase Toni Kroos here, like a midfield player in defense.

By logical extension, he wouldn't have been signed if he was an average ball distributor because he isn't special as a defender. Deductive reasoning is as simple as that and anyone with half a brain would come to the same conclusion. Otherwise you wouldn't have described it as being "funny".

 

Now look who's emotional.

Hendrix22 was spot on. There is no contradiction with Xabi's aim of solving the Mbappe-Vini puzzle. As much as I usually don't agree with his points. You just dug a logical hole you can't get out of.

Those two won't be benched, period. So it is in the club and the manager's best interest to make those two click. Once that happens, the chances of winning trophies increases exponentially. Simple.

 

There is no circle. You are literally in a deep hole with no way out. If circle = cope for you, then by all means yes. No one is forcing you to reply.

Fact of the matter is Xabi needs to find a way to make his two undroppable star forwards sync, or he'll most probably see himself under pessure before the season is over due to lack of goals. And I don't see Rodyrgo, Arda, Brahim or Endrick being able to replace the on form production of either of those guys either individually or collectively.

That isn't too controversial. You just want to be a contrarian and can't help yourself.

 

🗣️ Dean Huijsen: “We're very happy to have Xabi Alonso here too. I think he has a lot of good ideas, and we're going to have some great years together.” ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/aZe0uu1BSw

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 21, 2025

Dean Huijsen: “We're very happy to have Xabi Alonso here too. I think he has a lot of good ideas, and we're going to have some great years together.”

I agree.

 

Well, he HAS to have great years, or he's gone (probably going to Liverpool and succeeding).

 

🚨 Xabi Alonso: "I expect an intense game tomorrow.

We want to play well, and we want to win.

This is a must-win. And we need to win convincingly." pic.twitter.com/URXeghXzMY

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 21, 2025

Xabi Alonso: "I expect an intense game tomorrow. We want to play well, and we want to win. This is a must-win. And we need to win convincingly."

🚨 Xabi Alonso: "Do we need a controlling midfielder? We are not thinking about the transfer market right now, we're trying to win this competition.

But I'm convinced that with all the great profiles we have, we can create a DOMINANT midfield. I'm sure of it." pic.twitter.com/1GCSDIk9R2

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 21, 2025

Xabi Alonso: "Do we need a controlling midfielder? We are not thinking about the transfer market right now, we're trying to win this competition. But I'm convinced that with all the great profiles we have, we can create a DOMINANT midfield. I'm sure of it."

🚨 Xabi Alonso: "The first half against Al-Hilal was not good.

We were more dominant in the 2nd half, and that's what we should be aiming for.

We don't want that 1st half to ever be repeated." pic.twitter.com/jxXaBkZWo4

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 21, 2025

Xabi Alonso: "The first half against Al-Hilal was not good. We were more dominant in the 2nd half, and that's what we should be aiming for. We don't want that 1st half to ever be repeated."

 

The poor 1st halves are reminicent of the previous management's final season. I dunno why that kept happening in most of the matches A bad habit the team hopefully gets rid of ASAP.

 

Guler mentioned in an interview that Xabi talks to him a lot and they were discussing positions etc. Endrick mentioned that Carlo hardly speaks to him and it's something I've heard before. Hopefully our younger players develop better under Xabi.

 

🚨🗣️ Aurelien Tchouaméni: “What does the coach ask of us on the pitch?

I can’t tell you (laughs). A lot of intensity with and without the ball, helping the team with buildup, pressing now too, and moving the ball and creating chances. A bit of everything.” ⭐️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/fNpiSJMtYL

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 22, 2025

Aurelien Tchouaméni: “What does the coach ask of us on the pitch?

I can’t tell you (laughs). A lot of intensity with and without the ball, helping the team with buildup, pressing now too, and moving the ball and creating chances. A bit of everything.”

 

I didn’t watch the game but I can guess what sort of half Xabi is talking about, we’ve seen them wayyyy too often in the past years where the team is sleeping for 45 mins then wakes up and plays more intense football.

 

🚨🗣️ Arda Güler: “I feel good with Xabi Alonso because he sees me as a midfielder, which is good for me. He likes to control the tempo and wants more short passes.” pic.twitter.com/KyuApLDIoX

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 22, 2025

Arda Güler: “I feel good with Xabi Alonso because he sees me as a midfielder, which is good for me. He likes to control the tempo and wants more short passes.”

🚨🗣️ Arda Güler: “I feel MORE IMPORTANT because Xabi Alonso talks to me all the time.” pic.twitter.com/j0iPpQIjPC

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 22, 2025

Arda Güler: “I feel MORE IMPORTANT because Xabi Alonso talks to me all the time.”



I'm optimistic about Xabi unlocking Arda.