After Jeddah, a Reckoning: Why Xabi Alonso Failed and What Álvaro Arbeloa Must Redefine at Real Madrid

The Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah was never just another Clásico. It was a verdict.

For the second consecutive season, Real Madrid were undone by Barcelona, falling 3–2 under the Saudi lights at Alinma Bank Stadium. On paper, it was a narrow defeat. In reality, it was the culmination of a flawed idea, tactical, psychological, and structural. Less than 24 hours later, Xabi Alonso was gone.

The club called it a “mutual agreement.” History will call it something else: an admission that elegance alone does not govern the Bernabéu.

The Night Madrid Lost Its Shape

Alonso’s final act was emblematic of his tenure, brave in conception, brittle in execution. For the first time this season, Madrid defended in a back five, with Aurélien Tchouaméni converted into a third centre-back. The idea was understandable. The outcome was inevitable.

Tchouaméni, for all his intelligence, is not a central defender built to absorb prolonged pressure from elite forwards like Robert Lewandowski or wide attackers like Raphinha. He has been exposed there before. This was not innovation; it was denial.

Worse still, the defensive reconfiguration hollowed out the midfield. A backline patched together with midfielders and inexperienced defenders collapsed not only under Barcelona’s pressure, but under its own imbalance. Madrid did not merely defend poorly; they disconnected themselves from the game.

This is where Alonso’s philosophy collapsed. His Madrid were meant to be lethal in transition, powered by the speed of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. But transitions require a bridge. And that bridge once bore the names of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić. Without them, Madrid’s buildup often died at first touch, possession surrendered before momentum could even form.

Alonso asked his players to play chess without a board.

The Mbappé Paradox: Star Power Without Structure

Nothing captures Madrid’s current contradiction more starkly than Kylian Mbappé.

At 29 goals for the season, Mbappé remains devastating. Yet Madrid are, uncomfortably, more cohesive without him. When a natural striker like Gonzalo García leads the line, the geometry of the attack improves. Defenders are pinned. Vinícius gains space. The box becomes occupied rather than ornamental.

Mbappé, by contrast, too often drifts to the edge of the penalty area, static, expectant, detached from the game’s pulse unless the ball arrives perfectly at his feet. Stop Vinícius on the left, and Madrid’s attack collapses into predictability.

The answer is not to bench Mbappé. It is to redefine him. Arbeloa must demand that Madrid’s most luminous star rediscover the instincts of a true No. 9, movement without the ball, aggression between centre-backs, discomfort imposed rather than avoided. Without that evolution, Madrid will continue to win matches but lose finals.

Valverde and the Myth of Infinite Utility

Federico Valverde has become Madrid’s universal solvent, right-back, winger, midfielder, and emergency defender. Against Barcelona, he was everywhere and nowhere. Nine completed passes in 68 minutes is not versatility; it is disappearance.

Valverde’s gift has never been volume, but direction: diagonals that stretch play, carries that ignite transitions, energy that reshapes tempo. Used as a plug rather than a pillar, he solves nothing. If Arbeloa wants balance, Valverde must return to being a midfielder first, a solution second.

Even Thibaut Courtois completing more progressive passes than Madrid’s No. 8 should sound alarm bells inside Valdebebas.

Why Arbeloa Is Not Alonso and Why That Matters

The irony is striking: no player shared more minutes with Alonso than Álvaro Arbeloa. Across club and country, they spent over 20,000 minutes together on the pitch. Yet Arbeloa is not Alonso’s continuation. He is his counterpoint.

Alonso arrived with a pedigree, Bundesliga champion, tactical modernist, Guardiola-adjacent. Arbeloa arrives with something Madrid has always valued just as much: institutional memory and moral authority.

His coaching education is rooted in Madrid’s academy, shaped by the unforgiving clarity of youth football. Win duels. Create chances. Suffer together. His philosophical idols reveal more. From José Mourinho, he absorbed siege mentality and absolute loyalty to the squad. From Carlo Ancelotti, he learned man-management without softness, structure without suffocation.

Unlike Alonso’s preference for back threes and positional rigidity, Arbeloa’s teams default to a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 system woven into Madrid’s modern identity. High pressing. Vertical intent. Emotional intensity.

“We don’t go out just to win,” Arbeloa once said. “We go out to fulfil a dream: to play for Real Madrid.”

That sentence alone explains why he was chosen.

The Weight of the Badge

Madrid did not dismiss Alonso because he lost a final. They dismissed him because his Madrid did not feel like Madrid.

Arbeloa’s appointment is not romantic nostalgia. It is a wager that clarity can outperform complexity, that belief can repair imbalance, and that demanding football, played at full throttle from minute one to ninety, still matters in an era of systems and schemes.

His first test comes against Albacete in the Copa del Rey. His real test will come later, when the margins tighten, and the noise grows louder.

At Real Madrid, eras do not end quietly. They end under floodlights, against Barcelona, with the truth laid bare.

Jeddah was that moment.

Now begins Arbeloa’s reckoning.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Xabi Alonso’s Bernabéu Trial: A Better Madrid, But Is It Too Late?

On the night many at Real Madrid expected to sack him, Xabi Alonso walked into the Bernabéu knowing he was managing not just a football match, but a verdict. He watched his battered, makeshift team rise against Manchester City with spirit and defiance—only to fall again. When the final whistle arrived, the whistles from the stands followed. Alonso embraced Pep Guardiola, disappeared down the tunnel without a backward glance, and left behind the same question that has hung over this club all season: Is this enough to save him?

A Coach on the Edge, A Team Showing Life

Six injured defenders. No Camavinga. No Militão, Carvajal, Mendy, Alaba, or Alexander-Arnold. Kylian Mbappé, the supposed face of a new era, scratched at the last minute with an ankle issue. Four Castilla players on the bench. Fede Valverde reinvented himself as a right-back and captain. Gonzalo García pushed into the XI. Dani Ceballos, long forgotten, suddenly became a creative hub.

It was not a lineup; it was a plea.

And yet, Madrid started with something they have lacked for weeks: urgency. Vinícius demanded noise from the Bernabéu, Rodrygo rediscovered a pulse with his first goal in 33 games, and the players ran—truly ran—for their coach. Their early intensity forced City into errors. For 25 minutes, it looked like Real Madrid again.

Rodrygo’s goal was more than a finish—it was a statement. He ran straight to Alonso, embracing him publicly at one of the most precarious moments in the coach’s brief tenure.

“It’s a complicated moment for him too,” Rodrygo said, “and I wanted to show we are united.”

But unity does not always bring salvation.

Madrid’s Fragility Returns

If Madrid had rediscovered their heartbeat, they had not repaired their flaws. A scrambled corner, then Antonio Rüdiger’s catastrophic decision to lunge at Erling Haaland in the box, flipped the night upside down. Haaland does not miss those penalties. Courtois briefly preserved dignity with a miraculous double save, but the damage was done.

In the second half, Manchester City began to play like Manchester City. Jérémy Doku tore at Madrid’s patched-together defence. Madrid, unable to build sustained attacks without chaos, reverted to hopeful rushes forward. The whistles returned. So did the anxiety.

Yet Madrid still nearly clawed back the draw:

– Tchouaméni heading inches wide

– Vinícius missing an empty net

– Rodrygo flashing a shot just over

– And Endrick, forgotten all season, rattling the crossbar in despair

Fine margins. Another night where courage was undeniable, but the outcome was irreversible.

Pep’s Unfiltered Advice—and the Reality

Before this first managerial meeting between student and mentor, Guardiola was asked what advice he’d give Alonso. His answer was blunt, vulgar, and true:

“Que mee con la suya.” – Piss with your own penis. Do it your own way.

But could Alonso truly do that?

With seven key players unavailable, his choices were more constrained than conviction. And yet, there were signs of a coach trying to reshape a broken team—Ceballos as a playmaker, Valverde as captain, Vinícius moved centrally to re-centre the attack, Rodrygo restored to confidence.

The football wasn’t perfect, but it was purposeful. The question is whether it came too late.

The Boardroom: Suspended Sentence, Uncertain Future

Last Sunday night, after a run of two wins in seven matches, sections of Madrid’s hierarchy—never known for patience—were ready to dismiss Alonso. His reprieve was conditional: show life against City, show progress, and show something.

He did.

But Madrid still lost. And in a club where performances matter but results dictate survival, that distinction is rarely enough.

As Alonso said afterwards, “This bad moment will pass.”

The problem is that Real Madrid coaches aren’t always given time to wait for the passing.

The Verdict: Improvement, Yes. Salvation, Uncertain.

Madrid were better. Much better.

They competed, not capitulated. They showed spirit, unity, and structure that had been missing for weeks. The fans felt it. The players felt it. Even Guardiola felt it.

But—and this is the painful truth—Real Madrid measure progress with comebacks, not consolation. Near-misses do not absolve defeats. Improving while losing is still losing.

Alonso is not blameless either. His substitutions were questionable; Gonzalo García should have stayed on longer, Vinícius should have come off earlier. Tactical bravery is one thing; managerial stubbornness is another. Alonso occasionally shoots himself in the foot—and on nights like this, every mistake echoes louder.

Final Opinion: Madrid Showed Life, But the Coach’s Future Still Hangs by a Thread

This match proved two things at once:

1. Xabi Alonso’s Madrid is still fighting.

2. Real Madrid are still falling short.

The Bernabéu saw signs of a team trying to rise again, but signs cannot replace points. The club must now decide whether this performance represents a foundation—or a farewell.

If the standard is improved, Alonso stays.

If the standard is results, he may already be gone in all but name.

As harsh as it sounds, Madrid are a club that does not wait for better days.

And right now, Xabi Alonso’s future depends on whether the people who run this club believe that what they saw was a beginning—or just the last spark before the lights go out.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar 

The Early Unease of the Alonso Era

When Xabi Alonso took over at Real Madrid, expectation rushed in ahead of him. His reputation—sculpted in Leverkusen, refined in midfield intelligence, and romanticised by memory—promised a Madrid that would play with clarity and control, a team restored to aesthetic authority. What has followed so far, however, feels less like a new beginning and more like a prolonged state of uncertainty.

On paper, Madrid’s recent results suggested competence, even progress. But football is rarely honest on paper. Beneath the scorelines, tension had been accumulating—visible in disjointed movements, hesitant positioning, and a side still searching for structural balance. The emphatic 3–0 win away at Athletic Bilbao was widely interpreted as a release of pressure, perhaps even a turning point. Hosting Celta Vigo, then, should have been an invitation to confirm that belief. Instead, it exposed how fragile the foundations remain.

The defence, once again, had a makeshift feel—an all-too-familiar symptom of recent seasons that Alonso has yet to cure. Injuries and improvisation continue to dictate structure rather than design. Going forward, Madrid appeared threatening in flashes, with Federico Valverde captaining the side and carrying urgency, but coherence was lacking.

Opportunities arrived early. Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham both found space but not precision. The afternoon darkened further when Éder Militão was forced off injured—another costly rupture in an already unsettled back line. Vinícius Júnior tested the goalkeeper, Güler squandered again, and Madrid went into the break dominant in territory yet empty in conviction.

If the first half was a warning, the second was a collapse. Celta struck ten minutes after the restart with disarming simplicity—a deft backheel that punctured Madrid’s defensive concentration and silence fell over the Bernabéu. Moments later, Fran García’s second yellow card reduced Madrid to ten men, and with it vanished any illusion of control.

Down to numbers and directionless in idea, Madrid were subdued. A half-chance for Kylian Mbappé briefly hinted at resistance, but it was isolated, almost incidental. Gonzalo García’s late header drifting wide felt symbolic—close, hopeful, but ultimately irrelevant. Then chaos completed its work: Álvaro Carreras followed García down the tunnel, reducing Madrid to nine. Celta’s second goal, scored in the dying seconds, merely sealed a conclusion already written.

This was not just defeat. It was disarray.

For Xabi Alonso, the questions now grow louder. Not about philosophy—his is well established—but about translation. How long does a vision take to settle at a club that lives in the present? How much patience does Real Madrid truly possess? And most crucially: is this the lowest point of the season, or an honest reflection of where this team currently stands?

For now, the romance of expectation has given way to the discomfort of reality.

The Choreographer Returns: Xabi Alonso’s Tactical Symphony Set to Reshape Real Madrid

Introduction: A Homecoming With Purpose

Real Madrid have appointed club legend Xabi Alonso as manager on a three-year contract running until June 2028. As a former midfield metronome for the Spanish giants—with 236 appearances and a Champions League title to his name—Alonso returns not simply as a figurehead, but as a modern football intellectual. Having announced his departure from Bayer Leverkusen following an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga campaign, Alonso succeeds Carlo Ancelotti, who now departs for Brazil. The stage is set for a managerial evolution at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The Blueprint: A Tactical Renaissance in White

The Framework: From Leverkusen to Madrid

Alonso’s tactical vision, forged under the influences of Guardiola’s positional discipline and Klopp’s gegenpressing intensity, is uniquely his own—an amalgam of structure and spontaneity, aggression and elegance. His preferred 3-4-2-1 shape offers both defensive rigidity and fluid attacking permutations, a system that mirrored Leverkusen’s dominance and now seeks to be sculpted for Real Madrid’s star-studded ensemble.

1. The Defensive Trinity: Structure Meets Style

Goalkeeper:

Thibaut Courtois, an elite shot-stopper rather than a progressive distributor, fits Alonso’s pragmatic demand—a secure last line rather than an initiator of play.

Centre-Back Trio:

Centre: Antonio Rüdiger—aggressive, combative, dominant in duels—is the ideal fulcrum.

Right: A ball-playing outlet is essential. Real Madrid academy product Marvel or Asencio could fill the role once held by Tapsoba, tasked with breaking lines and defending the channel.

Left: Ferland Mendy offers defensive solidity in wide duels, while David Alaba provides a progressive edge—allowing tactical flexibility depending on opposition threat.

2. The Wing-Back Axis: Engines of Attack

Right Wing-Back:

Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to be Alonso’s creative fulcrum from deep. Inverting into midfield or overlapping wide, his vision and distribution could unlock defences and elevate the team’s tempo. His defensive fragilities can be masked by structural cover and shuttling support from midfield.

Left Wing-Back:

Options remain varied: Fran García provides direct width and energy; however, Rodrigo, used unconventionally, could mimic Frimpong’s attacking influence, drifting inside to offer a goal threat and link-up play.

3. The Double Pivot: Control and Chaos

Defensive Midfield:

Eduardo Camavinga, still only 21, offers Alonso a canvas for development. Like Granit Xhaka at Leverkusen, Camavinga can become a deep-lying conductor—resilient under pressure and incisive with his passing.

Box-to-Box:

Federico Valverde’s energy, verticality, and intelligence make him indispensable. His ability to shuttle, press, and transition between lines will allow Alonso to activate both defensive cover and offensive thrust.

4. The Inside Forwards: Width, Inversion, and Movement

Left (Second Striker):

Vinícius Júnior thrives in the hybrid role—wide when needed, central when space allows. His end product in the Champions League speaks volumes. Under Alonso, his off-ball movement will be sharpened further.

Right (Playmaker):

Jude Bellingham’s evolution into a vertical creator mirrors the role played by Florian Wirtz. Comfortable receiving between lines, turning under pressure, and carrying the ball into the final third, Bellingham’s all-action style will be central to Alonso’s offensive orchestration. Moreover, in Arda Guler, Alonso will have a wonderful backup. Also, Guler can provide effectiveness in the midfield if Valverde plays as a defensive midfielder.  Again, someone like Rodrygo Goes, if rediscovers his mojo, can prove handy in such positions. 

5. The Spearhead: A Refined Edge

Number 9 – Kylian Mbappé:

A modern striker who drifts wide, receives to feet, and explodes into channels, Mbappé under Alonso could become more than a scorer. As with Boniface at Leverkusen, expect more assists, greater touch volume, and dynamic interplay with Vinícius and Bellingham.

6. Defensive Transition: Intelligence Over Intensity

Out of possession, Alonso employs a 5-2-2-1 or 4-4-2 block—narrow, compact, and calculated. Wing-backs press wide. Midfielders close central passing lanes. Traps are set in transitional zones. This controlled chaos ensures quick recoveries and devastating counters. It’s not just about structure; it’s about synchronized aggression.

Conclusion: A Vision in Motion

With Alonso at the helm, Real Madrid are not just turning a page—they’re beginning a new volume in their illustrious history. His system is not about rigidity but harmony. Not about domination, but balance. And as the Bernabéu faithful watch legends like Bellingham, Mbappé, and Vinícius glide through Alonso’s ever-shifting architecture, they may soon witness a modern footballing masterpiece unfold—one move at a time, choreographed by the maestro who once commanded their midfield.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar 

Bayer Leverkusen Under Xabi Alonso: From 'Neverkusen' to Champions of Destiny

In the unforgiving world of football, titles define legacies. Reiner Calmund, former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director, once lamented, "You are worth nothing without a title." For decades, Leverkusen epitomized that harsh reality. Mocked as Vizekusen in Germany or Neverkusen in English, the club was branded as eternal bridesmaids—gloriously talented but forever bereft of glory.

Between 1997 and 2002, Leverkusen finished Bundesliga runners-up four times, a fate that compounded their image as nearly men. The nadir came in the 2001-02 season when the team spectacularly collapsed across three competitions. Having thrown away the Bundesliga title, they succumbed to Schalke in the DFB-Pokal final and were undone by Zinedine Zidane’s iconic volley in the Champions League decider. Manager Klaus Toppmöller encapsulated the heartbreak, declaring, “The disappointment is huge. You don’t always get the rewards you deserve in football.”

Even in subsequent years, moments of hope dissolved into near misses, the club’s reputation as football’s unluckiest team persisting. But in the 2023-24 season, under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen rewrote history, transforming from a symbol of missed opportunities into undefeated Bundesliga champions.

The Xabi Alonso Effect: Turning Doubts into Dominance

When Alonso was appointed in October 2022, the move was met with scepticism. Here was a footballing legend, revered for his composure on the pitch, stepping into elite management after a modest stint with Real Sociedad’s B-team. Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen's sporting director, admitted it was a gamble but noted, “I was convinced of his ability—and Xabi was convinced of our squad.”

This mutual belief paid dividends. Alonso not only revived a faltering team but also instilled a culture of confidence. As Jeremie Frimpong remarked, “You’ve got to respect him. He’s won everything: the Champions League and World Cup. He knows how to use the team, our abilities, our weaknesses.”

Leverkusen climbed from second-bottom to sixth by the end of Alonso’s first season, setting the stage for a historic 2023-24 campaign.

Building a Winning Machine: Tactical Mastery and Squad Evolution

Alonso's tactical ingenuity has been central to Leverkusen’s transformation. His approach is a symphony of positional fluidity and calculated risks. In the build-up phase, Leverkusen often operate with an asymmetrical 4-2-3-1 formation, exploiting space on the flanks through precise long switches. As attacks progress, the team morphs into a 3-2-5, prioritizing central dominance to carve through defensive lines.

This fluidity is mirrored in the players’ adaptability. Left-back Alejandro Grimaldo frequently drifts into midfield, while wingers interchange positions, causing havoc for opponents. The high backline ensures compactness, enabling swift counter-pressing. Alonso’s philosophy thrives on cohesion, where every player contributes to both attack and defence.

However, tactical sophistication alone doesn’t win titles. Recognizing the need for seasoned performers, Alonso bolstered his squad with experienced additions. Granit Xhaka brought leadership and grit to midfield, while Jonas Hoffman and Alex Grimaldo added flair and consistency. Victor Boniface, a relatively unheralded striker, emerged as the spearhead of Leverkusen’s attack, contributing 24 goals before injury struck mid-season.

Even setbacks failed to derail the team. Injuries to key players like Boniface were mitigated by the emergence of Amine Adli and Patrik Schick’s resurgence. The squad’s depth was showcased in the Europa League, where fringe players like Josip Stanisic and Nathan Tella gained valuable experience, reinforcing Alonso’s rotation strategy.

A New Identity: From Fragility to Invincibility

Leverkusen’s evolution under Alonso is as much psychological as tactical. The team’s ability to stay composed under pressure reflects their coach’s influence. Grimaldo encapsulated this shift: “We remain loose and calm, no matter the circumstances, because of the confidence Xabi has instilled in us.”

This mental fortitude has fueled a series of dramatic late comebacks, with winger Adli revealing, “We always have the feeling that we are not going to lose.” It is this unwavering belief that has seen Leverkusen not only remain unbeaten domestically but also contend for a historic treble.

The Dawn of a New Era

The statistics underscore Leverkusen's dominance: just 23 goals conceded, a league-best defensive record and an offensive output surpassed only by Manchester City in Europe. Florian Wirtz, the team’s creative linchpin, has established himself as one of Europe’s finest playmakers, contributing 18 goals and 19 assists. Grimaldo and Frimpong, meanwhile, have redefined the role of wing-backs, combining for an astonishing 53 goal involvements.

Alonso’s meticulous planning extends beyond tactics. His ability to foster trust and camaraderie within the squad has been instrumental. As he noted, “The coach has an idea, and the players must believe him. This is why human relationships come before tactics.”

From 'Neverkusen' to 'Neverlusen'

Leverkusen’s transformation is complete. They are no longer the tragic figures of German football but its newest champions. As they prepare for the Europa League and DFB-Pokal finals, the narrative has shifted from heartbreak to hope, from nearly men to invincibles.

Former manager Toppmöller’s words now carry a tone of pride rather than pity: “My former club has a huge chance to put the name Vizekusen behind them.” Indeed, Bayer Leverkusen has not only shed its old nickname but also carved a new legacy as 'Neverlusen'—a moniker that speaks to their resilience and newfound destiny as winners.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar