“Real Madrid” has opened a new chapter in its history. One of the legends of world football, former player and promising coach Xabi Alonso now manages the “whites.” His first official game in charge will take place on June 18 as part of the Club World Cup. The opponent is the ambitious and well-funded Saudi Arabian club “Al-Hilal.”
However, before the game, Alonso has already established strict and clear rules within the team. According to information shared by journalist Javier Erraez through Spain's “Cadena SER” radio, Xabi Alonso sent a very clear and firm message to the players:
“Those who do not run and do not leave everything on the field — will not play. I am not interested in names.”
This means that for the new coach, it does not matter who has what level of stardom. Only hard work, discipline, and dedication on the field will be taken into account. Through these words, Alonso may have sent a warning signal to some stars who have settled into a “comfort zone” at “Real.”
He further emphasized:
“You should not just wait for the ball to come to you and turn it into a goal. You need to fight for every situation, to move for every ball.”
This approach is characteristic of Alonso's style, which has seen success at “Liverpool,” “Bayern,” and with the Spanish national team. His style emphasizes team discipline, intellectual play, and relentless movement for 90 minutes. Therefore, “Real” players are now required to be fully committed to every situation instead of looking for an “easy way out” on the field.
It has also been reported that Xabi Alonso has held individual discussions with some players, telling them that they need to fight for their place in the upcoming season. Additionally, he has expressed his support for integrating young players from the academy into the main squad.
It should be noted that before the start of the new season, Carlo Ancelotti left Madrid to lead the Brazil national team. Xabi Alonso, who took his place, achieved excellent results with “Bayer” in Germany, including becoming the Bundesliga champion and leading to the final of the Europa League.
Now he faces a historic task — to lead one of the most famous clubs in the world, “Real Madrid,” into a new era.
Firstly, this means new standards in physical preparation and discipline. Secondly, players will need to play not just with their names but with passion and effort. These strict demands placed on the players signal that a new era has begun at “Santiago Bernabeu.”
