Xabi Alonso insists his Real Madrid tenure remains a long-term rebuild, despite the club’s bruising 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals, as Softfootball confirmed.
With Dean Huijsen suspended and Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined through injury, Alonso ditched his preferred three-at-the-back setup and lined up with a traditional back four. But the switch unravelled quickly as PSG raced into a two-goal lead inside the first 10 minutes, and Madrid never recovered.
Alonso told DAZN after the final whistle.
“The opening stages were crucial. They were very strong, and it became really difficult after we conceded early. PSG are playing at a high level right now.”
The loss was Alonso’s first major setback since taking the reins in early June, and the former Bayer Leverkusen boss acknowledged the result stung, but urged fans and players alike to take the longer view.
“This is a two-year project, and we’ve only just started,”
he said.
“We need to keep working calmly but yes, defeats like this hurt.”
The 42-year-old conceded his tactical adjustments backfired under pressure, noting that early goals disrupted the game plan.
“The two early goals changed everything. It forces you to chase, and against a team like this, you can’t afford to lose balance,”
he said.
“They were better today. It’s a learning experience.”
Real Madrid has requested to delay their La Liga opener to allow for recovery time after the tournament. Whether the league will grant the request remains to be seen, but Alonso is already looking ahead.
“We’ve barely trained since arriving,”
he added.
“We’ll take this break, come back, and continue building. There’s still a long road ahead.”
Softfootball had also reported Alonso’s reaction to the departure of legendary midfielder Luka Modric as a “huge miss” to his project. The 39-year-old Croatian maestro played his final match in Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final, a night to forget as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Madrid.
Yet, that forgettable outing will do little to tarnish the legacy of one of the most iconic players to wear the famous white shirt. Xabi Alonso, while speaking, said the departure of Modric will be hugely felt in the team.
