Xabi Alonso's 5 Challenges to Building a Winning Real Madrid

To be clear: the Real Madrid looked very poor in their 1-0 win over Osasuna to open the season. Fans looking for signs of encouragement, or hoping to be moved by new tactical ideas, will have been largely disappointed. There was nothing definitive to be found, no dazzling new system, no innovative way of playing.

Instead, the team fell into many similar patterns. Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé clashed quite a bit. The midfield lacked balance. The team looked vulnerable in transition here and there. If the Real Madrid really wants to compete for the league, then he will have to perform in a much more convincing manner than this.

The good news, however, is that it's early in the season. Xabi Alonso may have a lot to do, but he also has a lot to work with. It helps, too, that such is the quality of the squad—and the relative weakness of La Liga—that the Real Madrid can still be carried by moments of individual magic. However, individualism can only sustain them for so long, and the new coach will have to start putting together something more tactically coherent.

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Adjusting the Mbappé-Vinicius dynamic

Setting up Vinicius and Mbappé in the same formation isn't impossible, but it is quite difficult. It really stems from an unwillingness on either side to adjust. Vinicius is determined to have his heels on the touchline and cut inside. Mbappé has a deep, almost emotional attachment to the left flank. Neither has shown any real intention of yielding.

Perhaps the one who most needs to give way here is Mbappé. Neither is a "9," and neither is likely to be a world-class player. But Mbappé is certainly the one who has to try, especially if the team is going to play with three forwards. The only thing that is clear is that this can't continue for much longer.

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Strengthening stability with Carvajal

It's all about balance. Real Madrid He lacks legs in attack and is a little unbalanced in the middle. Alonso will undoubtedly tinker with his setups all over the pitch in the days, weeks, and months to come. However, that means he needs solidity in some key positions. One of those is right-back, and even Carvajal, coming off a serious knee injury, is more reliable than most.

Perhaps the most important thing for this team is Real Madrid, however, is the intangible. The old guard has mostly left the club. Carvajal still knows how to be a leader and what it means to wear the shirt. At the Santiago Bernabéu, in front of demanding fans, that's everything. Real Madrid you just need it in the field.

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…and consider Trent's idea in midfield

Carvajal's suggested restoration to the starting lineup would mean another player suffering. And so we return to the Trent Alexander-Arnold conundrum. For a long time, there was the idea that Alexander-Arnold would eventually become a central midfielder. That notion, from the perspective of his skills, makes sense. He is arguably the best passer in world football.

Southgate tested that theory for England with mixed results. He was remarkably effective when the game slowed down, but in frenetic contests that required more positional discipline, he struggled. Well, with Carvajal set to play at right-back, it might be time for the 'Trent in midfield' experiment to resume, only this time in the Real Madrid .

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Let Franco Mastantuono shine

The good thing about being in La Liga is that you can spend part of the season testing, especially at home. Real MadridHe'll simply breeze through a number of games. That would seem to leave room for some new faces to have a chance. Enter Franco Mastantuono, who, in a short time, seemed more than ready for the moment.

The former River Plate attacking midfielder has already had his time with the Argentine national team. Perhaps his most valuable trait is his versatility. Nominally an attacking midfielder, Mastantuono can play almost anywhere. He proved that in the season opener, operating primarily on the right wing and serving as a true bundle of energy. A fine save denied him what would have been a much-deserved debut goal. Whether he can start every game remains to be seen, but he has certainly made a case for more minutes.

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Control noise

This is, really, the central task of being the coach of the Real Madrid: control the noise around the Real MadridLos Blancos are the biggest club in the world. There's always someone making demands, from the fans to the media to the authoritarian president Florentino Pérez. Taking on this role means accepting that there will be boos, tough questions, and immediate skepticism.

Alonso knows this. He played in this demanding environment. Right now, Los Blancos are on tenterhooks. The responsibility ultimately falls on Alonso to find his system, stick to his principles, and stay the course, by whatever means necessary.