When Jude Bellingham donned the Real Madrid shirt in the summer of 2023, the young Englishman was quickly given a free role by Carlo Ancelotti, where he chose when he let go of his other tasks and his leg against the opponents’ goal. When Kylian Mbappé came to the reigning champions of the Champions League and La Liga, it turned out that Ancelotti now suddenly had a large predominance of attacking players without a fiber of defensive genes in his body. It ended without a title. Xabi Alonso heralds new times.
The new Real manager sent a clear message to his star-studded attack: “Defend or stay on the bench!”.
READ: Starting the season with a MASSIVE boost in Manchester United attack!
At a press conference before his team’s Club World Cup match against Red Bull Salzburg, Alonso stressed that all 11 players must contribute defensively, citing past frustrations under former coach Carlo Ancelotti when strikers such as Vinicius and Mbappé were criticised for ignoring their responsibilities in defensive work.
“What I am clear about is that we all have to defend. All 11 must be involved. Without it… Vini, Jude, Fede, Kylian, the defense. The closer we are, the better. We’re working on it, and so is Vini,” Alonso made crystal clear.
A standing ovation from the Real supporters.
