Xabi Alonso Yonder Alonso won the UEFA youth league with Real Madrid and has lately taken over the helm at the senior level of the club. These transitions changed the team culture and left some stars discontented. Since taking control over the summer, Alonso has made multiple changes in order to increase discipline and performance. Squad is united on these later reforms. Not everyone in the squad has embraced these changes.
Alonso knew that the last coaching staff sensed the same issues—that the conditions were not there for success. In answer to that though, he brought a lot of discipline in the team’s organization, and the attention to detail, the focus and concentration. One of his first moves was to limit the number of staff present during training sessions to only those deemed essential. This decision focuses on making the arena an engaging space allowing competitors to focus their attention without distractions.
Alonso cut down on the number of people permitted around the team before games, most notably at halftime. This new measure will ensure that we are fostering an environment in which privacy is encouraged and embraced. It gives players a space to reboot and concentrate on their gameplay. Tactical flexibility and player rotation are the key Pedro Alonso signatures that have so far defined his managerial approach. This approach gets everyone involved and prevents complacency from setting in.
Alonso was committed from the beginning to pave the way for this new culture within the team. He sat down with senior players and team captains to come up with a new set of guidelines for the dressing room. He found a world set in stone by four years of influence from former manager Carlo Ancelotti. Consequently, he found it unworthy of the standards he set for himself to succeed.
In a brave first match, Alonso’s gamble was to see just how well the team could keep them under wraps. Prior to the Club World Cup opener against Al Hilal, he shared the starting eleven with players in advance, trusting their discretion about potential leaks. This heavy dependence on player integrity has caused some to scratch their heads and consider what it will take to get used to his leadership style.
To further realize his vision for discipline, Alonso has set firmer standards with the group. One of these new rules is a push to get players to try harder on defense. This expectation has raised the ire, and joy, of many including those used to a more hands off approach to management.
“Some of them have won so much without doing these things that when these have been imposed on them, they have complained.” – source close to a first-team player.
Coaching Alonso’s coaching staff has been very good, to say the least. Assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla, physical trainer Ismael Camenforte, and analysts Alberto Encinas and Benat Labaien are all highly regarded within the club. No one was more surprised by their arrival than some specialists at Real Madrid. At the same time, those experts are stretching their legs to make room for Alonso’s innovative ideas.
For all of his tactical genius, a number of players view Alonso as cold and unapproachable, which couldn’t be a greater departure from Ancelotti’s popularity. This change to the overall interpersonal dynamic has only stoked the fires of pre-existing tension within the squad.
“It’s no secret, some cases have been public. It’s normal, especially with those who were untouchable.” – source close to a first-team player.
As Alonso continues to instill discipline and order in daily operations through controlled schedules, increased gym work focused on injury prevention, and regular video sessions, he faces challenges in maintaining harmony within the squad.
“Xabi has tried to guarantee more discipline and order in the day-to-day, with control of schedules, more work in the gym at the prevention level, and group and individual video sessions.” – source involved in the day-to-day at Madrid’s training ground.
Not every player has been welcoming to this new regime. Players have already been willing to voice their doubts over Alonso’s tactics. An insider noted that the coach’s ambitious tactics seem reminiscent of Pep Guardiola’s style.
“He thinks he’s Pep Guardiola, but for now he’s just Xabi.” – individual close to a senior Madrid player.
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