Welcome to The Athletic FC’s YouTube channel, where best-in-class journalism meets video.
With Carlo Ancelotti departing to manage Brazil, the stage looks set for Xabi Alonso to return to Real Madrid as head coach. But how would the team look under his management?
JJ Bull takes a look 🧠
#footballshorts #soccer #premierleague
————
Try The Athletic for FREE for 30 days: https://theathletic.com/checkout2/intro30/?source=video_youtube_theathleticfc
💻 🎧 Watch the Tifo Football Podcast here https://www.youtube.com/@tifo-podcast
Follow The Athletic FC:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheAthleticFC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAthleticFC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theathleticfc
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theathleticfc
Listen to The Athletic Football Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/TAFPod
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/69AAB4ojTuK7gwy3ZdQdB9
Subscribe to The Athletic FC newsletter for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/newsletters/the-athletic-fc/
Follow The Athletic’s Premier League WhatsApp Channel here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va4OzCyKwqSbZb1pna0K
————
Additional footage sourced from AP Newsroom
source

it’s gonna be interesting for sure but now with two defender signings and a carvajal replacement madrid willl already play better . if he can get more defensively out of his 3 forwards and make them drop and play together cohesively as a team already it’ll fix a major problem this team has. if they get a left back already this team is looking good . i still will bring in another midfielder. camavinga is not what he’s supposed to be a good player but not the same level as bellingham and valverde and im also not sure about touchamendi tbh. and i don’t like ceballos one bit
Surely he could convince his players to play LM/RM😅
I would hear what you say, but you put Alaba in there
If i was real madrid id rather go for Klopp
He also uses the 4-2-3-1 4-3-2-1 and 4-4-2 alongwith 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3- the best thing about Alonso is his tactical versatility- He will change his tactics based on the teams that he will face.
And he is already having a lot of world class talents like Mbappe, Valverde, Bellingham, Vinicius and incredible new signings like Trent, Huijsen and Carreras under his belt. Its only going to get better. But Guler will be huge, I hope he shines. 😊
"Attacking wingbacks" HAHAHAHAHA
No coaches tactics suit a massively over hyped problematic Mbappe.
Worst on field transfer in history. The only good thing Mbappe has done in Madrid is sell shirts.
Mbappe will be gone. Make 300 million on him, he will never press the back line.
Highline is their nemesis.
Mbappe will be still the problem trust me. He will have his stats but not the team improvement
I thought Madrid would have Zidane back because Zidane has won trophies with them. But I think Xabi is a good pick although he maybe lacking in experience compared to Zidane.
Even Pep Guardiola’s set up at Barcelona is different from his time at Man City. He’s had to adapt to the qualities he currently has. Top managers are pragmatists.
Football Manager is not real life 😂. Try managing a Sunday League team then you will understand what I’m talking about.
Obviously, Xabi Alonso is not going to set up Real Madrid like Bayer Leverkusen. Good managers adapt to the quality of their players and the team dynamics. For example, Conte’s Chelsea vs Conte’s Napoli or Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim vs Nagelsmann’s Bayern Munich.
Since he was part of it, I can see him copying Mourinho's system at RM.
Plus Rodrygo wants to play on this natural position (Left) more problem 😂 …
He’s managed in La Liga before he has knowledge on how it is to play over there
I can see Alonso releasing Vinicius Jnr. and getting Alejandro Garnacho because Nacho presses the ball like crazy.
I love how they got some of the best players in the world but playing them all in a system is hard
If he goes with his Bayer system no way is Jude-Fede the double pivot and no way do both Vini and Rodry start. It will be Vini-Jude behind the striker with Fede-Tchouameni in midfield. Camavinga actually has a great profile for a LWB and while Trent is not a traditional wingback he can replicate Grimaldo's role, who underlaps and joins midfield quite often.
Saying it doesn't fit the squad is utter nonsense. The defensive/pressing side of things is a valid point though.
Personally i expect a 4 atb with 4 midfielders and Vini-Mbappe up top.
I also think Alonso is not the type of manager Real often go for. To me he seems like the kind of manager who build up a team. Which Real don't like often. They want immidiate success. They often go for managers without a clear tactical system. Managers who are more man management people who can control the massive egos the club often has. Alonso is more of a manager with a clear tactical blueprint. But we'll see
The only player I worry about in this new system will be Rodrygo and that is the exact reason why I think Xabi is already looking to sell him for over £100m. This will fund transfers this summer and part of next summer.
Madrid's transfers this summer are pretty much done
RWB Trent Alexander-Arnold – Free Transfer
LCB Dean Huijsen £50m – Being paid over 3 years.
LWB – TBD
But it is next seasons transfer window where Xabi Alonso is gonna get Madrid up for the long term
GK Gianluigi Donnarumma – Free Transfer
RWB2 Vanderson – £30m
CCB1 William Saliba – £80m
LCB2 Valentin Gomez – £20m
CM(8)2: Angelo Stiller – £30m
He won't last even two years
Seeing TAA in a Real formation makes me sick to my stomach
it's a huge gamble
Slot has convinced the world that young inexperienced managers are best choice
he will figure it out. Did a phenomenal job at Leverkusen. This type of downfall always happens every year or every 4 years to every big team. Real Madrid have been very dominant the past decade even when Barcelona won the treble in 2015. Madrid won three consecutive champions league not done by any modern team today. Barcelona finally is reviving back but it took them quite a while to be what they were back in 2008-2017. So, it is just a cycle. Team needs new fresh ideas, and I am sure alonso will bring that to Madrid.
I can imagine vqlverde being a wing back😊
sell rodrygo put mbappe there buy another striker
The problem Real M. has at the moment is that none of their attacking minded players like to work defensively.
He used a back 4 plenty of times this season Alonso is one of the most versatile managers
Florentino has been clueless lately, first Mbappe and now hiring a traitor as Manager 🤦🤦🤦🤦
But how anyone can think of Vini and Mbappe track backing or pressing either 😂😂
Or bench the three non-committers up front and get fired after 3 months 😅
The team i was thinking would also be a good fit was actually Man City. Pep doesn't seem like he's going on break anytime soon, but let's see how next season plays out.
TAA is a great wing back , they just need to add davies in the LB
RM nightmare season 2.0 loading…
they insert TAA already. Carvajal will bench him.
Such an informative video 🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡🚡
Tbf Zidane played the same system and had a better outcome. Carva and Marcelo were basically WBs and Isco was a free role 10 . Casemiro could drop back and play CB while Kroos and Modric dominated midfield. But replicating that is a Mammoth task
It’s interesting that after all the fools who attacked Mbappe, he’s the top scorer in La Liga 😂. He’s not the problem never has been. Their problem is the failure to replace Kroos or tweak the system to better control games.
wow amazing