With little time to settle in, Real Madrid’s new coach has urged his players to act quickly and get organized.
Real Madrid are already a step behind other clubs in one key area—they’re entering the Club World Cup with a new head coach. Xabi Alonso, who replaces Carlo Ancelotti on the sidelines, doesn’t have the luxury of time to get everything in order. That’s why the Spanish coach is calling for urgency from his squad.
Madrid will kick off their campaign in the revamped Club World Cup this Wednesday. The European giants face Al Hilal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, a match that will also mark Alonso’s debut on the Real Madrid touchline.
After ending the season empty-handed in all Spanish and European competitions, Madrid are hoping to finish on a high by winning the Club World Cup. But for Alonso, time is proving to be one of his biggest challenges. Speaking to DAZN after arriving in Miami, the Spaniard shared his hopes for the tournament:
“We’ve arrived with great ambition. Hopefully, we can have a good tournament and reach the final.”
“We have to move quickly because we don’t have much time to train and build chemistry. We need to start shaping the team immediately, as we only have three training sessions before the first match.”
Alonso, a World Cup-winning former midfielder for Spain, also spoke to Real Madrid TV:
“We’re beginning a new era, and we have to decide what really matters—what kind of team we want to be, how we want to play, and how we view the game. We want to establish that identity right from the start, beginning with the match against Al Hilal.”
“First, we need to get to know each other. The players have a great attitude. I’m gradually getting familiar with everyone. The transfer process is underway, and more players will join in time.”
