{"id":153869,"date":"2025-07-06T21:35:25","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T21:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/from-guler-and-gonzalo-on-tactics-how-xabi-alonso-transformed-madrid-in-four-weeks-hes-more-modern-than-ancelotti\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T21:35:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T21:35:25","slug":"from-guler-and-gonzalo-on-tactics-how-xabi-alonso-transformed-madrid-in-four-weeks-hes-more-modern-than-ancelotti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/from-guler-and-gonzalo-on-tactics-how-xabi-alonso-transformed-madrid-in-four-weeks-hes-more-modern-than-ancelotti\/","title":{"rendered":"From G\u00fcler and Gonzalo on tactics: how Xabi Alonso transformed Madrid in four weeks: “He\u2019s more modern than Ancelotti.”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Abraham<\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Abraham P. RomeroEnviado especial Nueva York<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Enviado especial<\/span> Nueva York<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Actualizado <\/span>

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The PSG<\/strong> and Luis Enrique<\/strong> will pose the next challenge in the quest to build a new Real Madrid<\/strong> under the guidance of Xabi Alonso<\/strong>. This journey has begun with various changes both on and off the field, including a new coaching staff, analysts, technological tools, and most significantly: fresh ideas and a new hierarchy within the team during the Club World Cup<\/strong>. The leadership of Dean Huijsen and Arda G\u00fcler<\/strong> has been noteworthy, as they strive to drive the team’s ambitions forward. Meanwhile, the impressive performances of Gonzalo Garc\u00eda<\/strong>, the tournament’s top scorer, accentuate the progress being made\u2014anchored in the widely discussed concept of modern football<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso conducted his first training session as the head coach of Real Madrid on June 9<\/strong> at Valdebebas. Initially, the absence of international players left the training ground somewhat sparse, but during that week, the Basque coach and his staff dedicated over 10 hours daily<\/strong> to establishing foundational principles, identifying the team\u2019s strengths and weaknesses, and determining how the trip to the United States could serve as a pivotal turning point in this new chapter. The details were meticulously defined, focusing on intensity in training<\/strong>, with Alonso closely monitoring every drill, and incorporating tactical work<\/strong> on the pitch as well as video analysis, all aimed at reconnecting the group\u2019s spirit after a lackluster season.<\/p>\n

Four weeks after arriving at Valdebebas and three since landing in Palm Beach, Madrid has transformed both physically and mentally. \u201cWe are becoming \u00a0more modern\u00a0,\u201d acknowledged Courtois in the corridors of the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday. \u201cXabi is more modern; he emphasizes collective play over individualism. When the team performs well, each individual will excel as a result,\u201d he commented to the media.<\/p>\n

According to his coach, the Belgian goalkeeper has a \u201cmanager\u2019s mentality,\u201d making him one of the most critical yet sincere voices within the team. \u201cCarlo taught us much, but our styles differ; he introduced a different brand of football,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cXabi is a coach full of vigor, intent on engaging everyone with high standards. Today\u2019s football demands pressing as a cohesive unit, where all eleven players attack and defend together, ensuring that each player is integral to the system.\u201d<\/p>\n

The goals from Gonzalo and Fede Valverde and the assists from Arda G\u00fcler have resulted in somewhat diminishing the limelight on Vinicius<\/strong>, the team’s star during Ancelotti’s era. The Brazilian put forth his best performance against Salzburg, yet Madrid has not yet depended on his stellar display to remain competitive. \u201cIf we want Vini or Kylian to dribble past four defenders, we won\u2019t win; we need everyone in their rightful positions, and they will shine because of their innate quality,\u201d Courtois insisted, accurately.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefending as a collective\u201d has been a frequent motto during Madrid\u2019s training camp in Florida, especially since it became a focal point of attention last season. \u201cI don\u2019t ask Mbapp\u00e9 to press; I ask him for goals,\u201d Ancelotti once stated. Although the Frenchman has been under the weather and hasn’t started recently, Gonzalo has showcased consistent work ethic and pressure, complementing the team’s efforts. \u201cWe need that energy, that rhythm, that intensity. We have to feel that adrenaline during the game,\u201d Alonso explained.<\/p>\n

The New Midfield Dynamics<\/h2>\n

One of the tactical keys during Xabi\u2019s early weeks in charge has been the midfield, spotlighting three names: Tchouam\u00e9ni, Valverde, and Arda G\u00fcler<\/strong>. The Frenchman has become the team’s pivot, capable of shifting from defense to midfield seamlessly, serving as Alonso’s extension on the pitch. Beside him, G\u00fcler has emerged as a central midfielder rather than merely an attacker. The Turk has pushed Rodrygo<\/strong> to the bench since the second match of the tournament, fully taking the reins of Madrid under Alonso\u2019s directives. \u201cThis is a moment to invest in his growth; he must mature, learn from mistakes, and progress. Improvement comes through play,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n

This sentiment varies starkly from one of Ancelotti\u2019s famous lines during his final months, as debates surged about incorporating youth into the squad: \u201cTo be a starter at Madrid, you need to sit on the bench first.\u201d G\u00fcler has already tallied two assists, allowing Valverde to shed some creative burdens and join the attack\u2014contributing two goals himself. Alongside Huijsen and Trent<\/strong> (who has also recorded two assists), the Madrid team under Alonso has undergone a comprehensive transformation.<\/p>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Abraham P. RomeroEnviado especial Nueva York Enviado especial Nueva York Actualizado Domingo, 6 julio 2025 – 23:21 The PSG and Luis Enrique will pose the next challenge in the quest to build a new Real Madrid under the guidance of Xabi Alonso. This journey has begun with various changes both on and off the field, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[36710,36743,37151,37245,37402],"class_list":["post-153869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-deportes","tag-deportes-futbol","tag-mundial-de-clubes","tag-real-madrid","tag-xabi-alonso"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153869\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}