Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso stressed the need for intense self-reflection within his squad following their decisive 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Club World Cup semifinal on Wednesday night.
The Spanish giants were comprehensively beaten by PSG, who now advance to face Premier League club Chelsea in the final on Sunday.
Alonso, who took the helm at Real Madrid in late May after a successful two-and-a-half-year tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, acknowledged the significant gap between his nascent team and PSG’s established unit.
“They are at a very high level and have been since the start of the knockout phase of the Champions League,” Alonso remarked.
“They have shown it again here and we have to accept it — we are just beginning, learning things about where we want to go and how we are going to get there.”
The former Liverpool midfielder indicated that this ‘reality check’ at MetLife Stadium would inform future strategies, enabling his team to compete at a much higher standard.
He emphasised that there is considerable room for improvement and many aspects the team aims to refine.
Alonso’s appointment saw him inherit a Madrid side that finished as La Liga runners-up to Barcelona, also losing in the Copa del Rey final and exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals against Arsenal.
The Basque tactician would have preferred a full pre-season with his new squad before competitive action, making the challenge against PSG’s well-oiled machine a formidable one.
Despite the heavy loss, Alonso maintained a positive outlook for the upcoming season.
He said the game was the last match of this season, not the start of the next one, adding that the team will take positives away from the defeat.
Madrid’s path to the semifinal included being held by Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the knockout phase, followed by narrow victories over Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
Alonso demonstrated tactical flexibility during the tournament, varying between a back-four and a three-man central defence.
While star forward Kylian Mbappé was used sparingly due to a stomach bug in the group stage, the tournament offered other positives for Real.
New signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen gained their first competitive experience with the club.
Young striker Gonzalo Garcia made a notable impression, scoring four goals in the first five matches.
Related News: Good news for Chelsea as PSG handed Cup final blow after key players get banned
The match also marked a poignant moment for veteran midfielder Luka Modrić, 39, who made his farewell appearance for Madrid against PSG, concluding a glorious 13-year spell with the club.
He is reportedly set to join AC Milan. As is typical for European teams with deep runs in the Club World Cup, the turnaround to the next season will be exceptionally quick.
Alonso’s La Liga debut as Real coach is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, at home against Osasuna.
Attempts to postpone this fixture have been unsuccessful, leaving the players with less than six weeks for a break before embarking on a full pre-season under their new coach.
