After ending the season without a single title, the World Cup, which is set to kick off in the United States, takes on a much greater significance for Los Blancos and will provide an insight into the strategy of their new coach

Xabi Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as coach, along with new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, is bringing fresh air to a team that has emerged battered and bruised from a domestic season dominated by arch-rivals Barcelona.

The former Bayer Leverkusen coach could field his preferred 3-4-3 formation, giving Englishman Alexander-Arnold an important role on the right wing. Huijsen, who has just made his debut for Spain, will strengthen a defense that has been hit hard by injuries this season.

Real Madrid still has several players unavailable, including Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Eduardo Camavinga, but some could return during the tournament.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to undergo shoulder surgery after the Blancos’ participation, which they hope will happen after the coronation.

Their title ambitions are why they paid £10 million ($13.5 million) to sign Alexander-Arnold early; his contract with Liverpool was due to expire on June 30.

In Group H, Real Madrid’s campaign begins against Saudi side Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami, before facing Pachuca in Mexico in Charlotte on June 22. Alonso’s side will face Salzburg in Philadelphia on June 26 in their final group game.

Al-Hilal could be a tougher opponent than expected, having just appointed Simone Inzaghi, who led Inter to the Champions League final, as their coach. With a squad full of familiar names such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, João Cancelo, and Kalidou Koulibaly, Al-Hilal will believe in its chances of success.

Pachuca has former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon as its star player, but is considered the weakest team in the group. Real beat them 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup last December, with goals from Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes, and Vinicius Junior.

Los Blancos also beat Salzburg 5-1 in January in the Champions League group stage, although the 15-time champions were then eliminated by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Ambitious game

A year ago, Ancelotti suggested that big clubs, including Real Madrid, would skip the Club World Cup, but he was forced to backtrack. And with the winner’s prize of $135 million, victory is an important goal for the Spanish giants.

After Barcelona regained the La Liga title and defeated Real four times, the Madridistas also need a sporting success to boost morale and increase confidence ahead of the new season. Some of the same problems that Ancelotti failed to solve will be Xabi’s first tasks, and the Club World Cup is his first opportunity to respond.

The Italian complained about a lack of balance due to an overloaded attack, and Alonso has already suggested that Bellingham will be used in a deeper role than in the past.

Alonso, a classy midfielder during his time at Madrid and Liverpool, must find a way to play both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé without causing too many problems for the Madrid backline: “We have to get everything we can out of them, I have ideas. I’m thinking about how to create a balanced team… (and create) stability that allows individual qualities to flourish.”

Real’s football has often been criticized under Ancelotti, much to the Italian’s dismay, and Alonso has said he wants his team to excite the fans: “We want ambitious, active play that takes the initiative, and we have the players to do that. I want a team that conveys emotion, energy, ambitious play, and connects with the fans“

Alexander-Arnold’s extraordinary passing ability could help Madrid overcome the absence of Toni Kroos, who left last summer, while Croatian veteran Luka Modric is ready to play his last games with the Madrid club before leaving.

A farewell with a trophy would be fitting for one of the greats of modern football, while Real Madrid, winners of 15 Champions Leagues, would also be proud to be the first team to win the expanded Club World Cup.

Leave a Reply