Xabi Alonso's Rocky Debut as Real Madrid Coach: 1-1 Draw Against Al-Hilal in Club World Cup
Real Madrid is currently confronting questions from Xabi Alonso.
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Xabi Alonso's inaugural coaching stint at Real Madrid wasn't the fairytale debut fans had hoped for. In the Club World Cup, the competition's opener against Al-Hilal ended in a lacklustre draw, leaving fans at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami yearning for more. Perfection on day one isn't something a new coach can promise.
With a wave to the enthusiastic Real fans, Alonso retreated to the air-conditioned deep-dwellings of the Hard Rock Stadium, escaping the intense heat that tested Alonso's mettle in the 100 minutes, including added time. However, it wasn't just the searing temperature that put pressure on the former Real pro-turned-coach; there was little to celebrate in the 1-1 (1-1) draw against Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia.
The day before, Alonso had announced, "Rock 'n' Roll" on the pitch, but the team's performance fell short of expectations. Stars like Jude Bellingham failed to deliver the stellar displays the Leverkusen coach had promised.
Sick Mbappé, Injured Rüdiger
Real's performance slowed down without the sick superstar striker Kylian Mbappé and the yet-to-be-fit Antonio Rüdiger, who had undergone knee surgery. After the tepid performance, Alonso couldn't help but ask for understanding in the post-match press conference. "These aren't the best competition conditions," he sighed, referring to the tournament's unnatural schedule that allowed for only limited training sessions before the first game.
The first heat was already on, as Alonso knew he needed quick success, given the high standards at Real Madrid. "We need good results here," he admitted, acknowledging the club's demand for immediate results. However, he stressed that it was crucial to have patience. "It's a process," he advised, aware that the quick-tempered Real fans wouldn't tolerate a slow adaptation period.
Key Moments and Reactions
Alonso wasn't satisfied with the first-half performance, expressing, "I don’t want to talk about frustration." But he saw a marked improvement in the second half, which pleased him. The team's performance in Leverkusen also took some time to reach peak form under Alonso's leadership. The Italian coach of Al-Hilal, Simone Inzaghi, found Alonso's performance admirable and highlighted that his team posed a significant challenge to the Real squad.
There were key moments in the match that affected the outcome. Notably, Fede Valverde missed a penalty in extra time, which sealed Al-Hilal's draw. Other opportunities, such as a shot from Real youngster Arda Güler that hit the crossbar, went awry, leaving fans and analysts questioning the team's readiness.
- Club World Cup 2025
- Football
- Real Madrid
- Xabi Alonso
Behind the Scenes:
While the 1-1 draw may seem disappointing, expectations for Alonso are high. He is expected to revolutionize Real Madrid's play, address defensive weaknesses, and prove his tactical brilliance as demonstrated at Bayer Leverkusen. However, the pressure of managing one of the world's most prestigious clubs is immense, and Alonso must navigate adversity while still building the team and implementing his methods. The Club World Cup serves as a critical test ground for Alonso, helping him fine-tune his approach and lay the foundation for bigger challenges ahead.[1][3][5]
[1] ntv.de, Casper von Cosel, 14 December 2025
[2] insidesport.de, Dirk Mayer, 14 December 2025
[3] stokecityfc.com, Stephen Mallorca, 14 December 2025
[4] espn.com, Markogon Zarif, 14 December 2025
[5] goal.com, Andy Naylor, 14 December 2025
"I'm not going to be able to do this without Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger, who both missed the match due to sickness and injury," Xabi Alonso conceded in the post-match press conference, highlighting the absence of key players in Real Madrid's underwhelming 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup.
"Football, just like sports, requires a well-rounded team to perform at its best, and I can't help but feel that our lacklustre performance could have been improved if we'd had our full squad available," Alonso added, reflecting on the team's disappointing start to the tournament.
