Real Madrid changed their life with Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid are changing.

It is rare for Real Madrid, a team known for its conservative and strict football philosophy, to undergo such a comprehensive and profound transformation in such a short period of time. But this seems absurd thing is happening, and the person behind this miracle is none other than Xabi Alonso.

A whole new Madrid

Even the most optimistic Madridistas couldn't have imagined a Real Madrid team that played like this: coherent, synchronized, powerful, but also poetic. If anyone had ever attributed magic to Xabi Alonso during his time at Leverkusen - where he produced breathtaking victories and a strange unbeaten run - all doubts have now disappeared.

Real Madrid under Alonso is no longer a team that lives on individual moments or big-playing prowess, but a cohesive unit that operates smoothly like a fully programmed machine.

The 3-2 win over Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was the epitome of that revolution. It wasn't a perfect game – there were some shaky moments after the break and it ended in chaos – but it was certainly their most impressive performance of the season.

Xabi Alonso stuck to his usual starting line-up, a statement of fairness and trust in effort. Gonzalo, who kept his starting spot, did not disappoint as he continued to score.

However, what is more important is the way of playing. Real Madrid is no longer just a team that wins by character and class. They are playing a modern, scientific and well-organized football.

Xabi Alonso makes a difference at Real Madrid.

Against Dortmund, Xabi Alonso made some subtle tactical adjustments. In possession, they switched to a 1-4-4-2, with Tchouameni partnering Güler in midfield, and Fran García constantly pushing forward, playing even wider and higher than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

When defending, they immediately shrink into a back five. Trent cuts inside to cover the space, Valverde drops deep to mark Svensson, and Tchouameni stays close to Brandt.

The most significant change is in the collective. Xabi's Real Madrid has no one standing still.

The lines constantly swap positions, creating unexpected overlaps and central penetrations. From Tchouameni, Valverde to Bellingham, anyone can appear in the penalty area, and anyone can be the one to deliver the finishing blow.

In that system, Güler stands out as the playmaker. Fran García brings pace and depth on the left flank, while Vinicius continues to exploit the space behind the defense. Gonzalo - with his consistent form - is showing that he is not a one-off phenomenon.

A diverse attack, a flexible defense, a mobile midfield - all create a Real Madrid that is both beautiful and effective.

Dortmund had almost no chance. Kovac could be proud of a five-man defense that had brought positive results in the past, but against an explosive Real Madrid, all calculations became meaningless.

Real Madrid have reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Real Madrid were far from perfect, however. The second half exposed some of their inherent weaknesses: complacency, lack of concentration and an inability to control the tempo of the game. The chaos at the end of the match saw Huijsen sent off and Real almost paid the price if not for Courtois' brilliance. That is a big lesson that Alonso will need to take to heart if he wants to take this team to the ultimate glory.

Where everyone has to run

What makes Real different now is not just tactics, but spirit. No one is allowed to be lazy. No one is allowed to ignore their defensive responsibilities or refuse to support their teammates.

Xabi Alonso sent a clear message: football is not just about winning, but about running together, fighting together and creating beautiful moments together.

That is the new DNA he is creating for Real Madrid - a team once renowned for its individual football, now based on a disciplined and tactical collective. And if there is a symbol of that transformation, it is the full-backs Trent and Fran García - who both broke into the box to create the second goal, taking the entire Dortmund defense completely by surprise. A new Madrid has been born.

Up ahead is PSG - the real test for Alonso's burgeoning project. The French side are masters of transition, individual skill and the ability to play at a high intensity. But Real Madrid are no longer a team to be feared by the big names. They have character, Courtois in goal, cohesion in every move, and most importantly: they have Xabi Alonso.

Someone once said: “Xabi Alonso is either enlightenment or darkness” . Now, with what is happening at the Santiago Bernabéu, perhaps no one doubts the right choice that Real Madrid has made. Alonso is not just a coach, he is rewriting the definition of the Spanish Royal team itself.

Source: https://znews.vn/real-madrid-doi-doi-cung-xabi-alonso-post1566374.html