Unleashing Alonso: Real Madrid's Royal Debut - A Rough Start
Real Madrid faces questions from Xabi Alonso amidst queries for clarification.
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Xabi Alonso's royal coaching bow at Real Madrid was far from a fairytale. The much-anticipated encounter against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup 2025 lacked the expected flair, leaving fans at the Hard Rock Stadium yearning for more. Perfection on day one was hard to come by for the new coach.
With a wave to the adoring Real fans, Alonso retreated into the Air-conditioned bowels of the Miami stadium. The sweltering heat of the Hard Rock Stadium was just one of the relentless challenges awaiting Alonso in the 100 minutes of play, including extra time. Alas, there was little to celebrate for Alonso, as a 1:1 draw against Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia was far from royal.
Alonso had boldly declared "Rock 'n' Roll" on the pitch the day before. However, his team's performance, missing the ill Kylian Mbappé and the injured Antonio Rüdiger, fell short of the towering expectations set by the former Leverkusen coach.
The Unwell Mbappé, the Injured Rüdiger
Real's performance, in the absence of star striker Mbappé and the imperious Rüdiger, was neither title-worthy nor befitting of Alonso's sterling reputation. After the disappointing display, Alonso sought solace in the apologetic press conference room of the stadium. "These aren't ideal conditions, and the temperatures were far from pleasant," lamented Alonso.
Entering the fray at a blazing 33 degrees, the pitch provided scant shade to either the players or the coaching staff. Alonso called for understanding and patience, acknowledging that perfection cannot be demanded on day one. A sentiment that rings true for any coach at Real Madrid.
The Stumble in the Limelight
Alonso expressed frustration but found solace in the second-half performance. "I don't want to dwell on frustration," he remarked. The improved reaction in the second half was what pleased him. In Leverkusen, it took time for Alonso's team to deliver the perfect Alonso football. New Inter Milan head coach, Simone Inzaghi, could boast a more satisfactory start as Al-Hilal's new boss after their convincing victory against Paris Saint-Germain just 18 days ago.
"I respect Xabi Alonso immensely, but today he faced a worthy opponent," said Inzaghi, thrilled to earn millions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Alonso's Real Madrid will need to step up to live up to their favorites' role in Group H. As things stand, Red Bull Salzburg tops the group following their 2:1 victory against Mexico's CF Pachuca.
Source: ntv.de, Klaus Bergmann, dpa
- Club World Cup
- Football
- Real Madrid
- Xabi Alonso
Enrichment Data:Upon reviewing available data, we found no specific stats or records concerning Xabi Alonso's position following his first match as Real Madrid's coach in the Club World Cup 2025. However, Alonso commenced his role as Real Madrid manager on June 1, 2025, and competed in the Club World Cup 2025, although the outcome or performance data from the first match has not been reported. Prior to joining Real Madrid, Alonso boasted an impressive coaching record at Bayer Leverkusen with 88 wins, 33 draws, and 19 losses in 140 matches, including an unbeaten 51-game streak and a Bundesliga title. The current data does not provide any information about Alonso's performance following the Club World Cup 2025 opening match.
I'm not going to be able to do this football miracle at Real Madrid, just as Xabi Alonso might have thought after the club's disappointing 1:1 draw in the Club World Cup 2025 against Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia. The team's performance was far from what Alonso or the fans might have expected, especially with the absent Kylian Mbappé and the injured Antonio Rüdiger.
