Xabi Alonso set new guidelines for Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr & other Real Madrid stars: Report

The Spanish manager will be in the Los Blancos dugout for the first time when Madrid faces Al-Hilal this week

Real Madrid’s new head coach, Xabi Alonso, has started to show his personality as a manager and has set new standards for every player, regardless of their status or how much they make at the club.

With the Los Blancos set to play their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game this week, Alonso will oversee his first-ever game as Madrid manager in the tournament.

The Spanish club are one of the frontrunners to lift the trophy this summer and will be hoping to demonstrate their worth under the Spanish gaffer.

But despite being one of the favourites, the former Bayer Leverkusen manager has demanded that all his players give equal contribution on the pitch, regardless of their status at Real Madrid.

If you don’t run, that’s a yellow: Xabi Alonso

According to Cadena SER, Alonso addressed the squad bluntly: “If you don’t run, that’s a yellow. Do it again, and you’re off.” No matter the status or salary, intensity is mandatory.”

He has even urged goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to press high. Alonso wants to watch all his eleven players press high and play as one unit. The club now boasts many star players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé.

The former Spanish midfielder wants to set the standards at the club and wants to see all his players follow them on the pitch, as he wants to instil a winning mentality and bring discipline and collectivism on the pitch.

As a manager, Xabi Alonso has already cemented himself as one of the underrated head coaches in modern football and broke Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga after winning the 2023-24 league title with Bayer Leverkusen.

Now he will get to manage his former club, where he spent most of his playing career. But it won’t be easy as Alonso will be managing a squad full of stars and egos, and there will be issues, but given he has achieved enough experience, he will be ready to lead the Los Blancos to a new era.

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