At Bayer Leverkusen, coach Xabi Alonso inherited a club and a group of players eager to succeed. At Real Madrid, success is always expected. If he does not win, it means he will be fired, regardless of who that person is.
Alonso will become the seventh former Real Madrid player to take charge at the club. In that list, only Zinedine Zidane has been in charge for more than a year and a half.
"Everyone expects you to win. finishing in second place has no meaning. So you have to win and face the pressure every day. That is the only way.
Xabi Alonso used to play for Liverpool, won, and then he was at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. So he knows what pressure means at this level" - Rafa Benitez said.
However, in many ways, Alonso came to Real Madrid at the perfect time. Everyone accepted that Los Blancos did not play well. That is why Carlo Ancelotti left, a year before his contract expired.
The "White Vultures" ended the 2024-2025 season without a major trophy for the first time since 2021. They have been defeated four times by Barcelona in three different competitions. They also lost to Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Real Betis and Valencia in La Liga. In addition, there are defeats against Lille, AC Milan, Liverpool and Arsenal in the Champions League.
According to Ancelotti himself, he could not turn Real Madrid's stars into a competitive team. "It's a matter of balance," said the Italian captain.
Finding Kylian Mbappe in a squad already featuring Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo is not a simple matter. Ancelotti has experimented throughout the season, making some changes and most effectively the 4-4-2 formation when not having the ball. However, this tactic was not a sustainable success.
However, this is an attractive opportunity for a coach with clear tactical ideas and strong personality like Alonso.
Sources told ESPN that Alonso is eager to take over the team ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup. This will give him more time with the players to implement his ideas before the 2025-2026 season.
The challenges are significant. Mbappe and Vinicius, two players who like to play on the left wing of the attack, must form an effective combination. There were signs of this: Mbappe's hat-trick in the 3-4 loss to Barcelona in May included two goals assisted by Vinicius. But the couple's shaky movement had to be resolved.
There is also a problem with Bellingham, who had an excellent debut season before struggling in this year's campaign. Bellingham scored 19 goals in La Liga last season, but only scored 8 goals this season.
The England international still has to play with a shoulder brace after a torn artery in November 2023. At some point, the question of whether this midfielder needs surgery will have to be resolved.
And then there is Rodrygo, who sources told ESPN are fed up with being used as a reserve card. The Brazilian striker wants to play regularly on the left wing, where he feels he plays most effectively.
Rodrygo's close relatives have made this clear to club president Florentino Perez. It is still unknown whether Alonso will approve his wish. Rodrygo wants to hear the new coach's plan before making any decision on his future.
Further, the midfield needs to be improved, but it is still unclear whether there will be new contracts or not. Los Blancos' leadership is said to still believe in the potential of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
The problem is, they continue to rely on Luka Modric with 25 appearances in all competitions this season. And when the Croatian midfielder has said goodbye, who will Real Madrid rely on?
It would be a big mistake not to mention Los Blancos' defense. They have conceded 38 goals in La Liga this season, their highest number since 2019.
Real Madrid are waiting to announce the contract of Trent Alexander-Arnold, while the recruitment of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth has been completed. They are also keen to sign another left-back. Benfica's Alvaro Carreras is currently the top target.
Overall, Alonso will have a significantly improved squad. Ancelotti had been keen on a squad boost last summer and January this year, but he did not agree.
Alonso will receive reinforcements his predecessor could not have. And the FIFA Club World Cup, although it will come earlier than Alonso hopes, will still give him his first look.
