Real Madrid will start next season from scratch after manager Xabi Alonso acknowledged that the team was not up to standard in their 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinal. The loss came despite a strong start, as Gonzalo García and Kylian Mbappé were reunited on the field for the first time since the tournament began.
Alonso cited a tactical shift backfiring as the main reason for the defeat. By reverting to a four-man defense from their usual back-five setup, the team struggled to cope with Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking threats. The deficit quickly mounted, with two goals in the opening nine minutes leaving Real Madrid on the back foot.
In a post-match interview, Alonso acknowledged that his team was not at its best and vowed to learn from the experience. Despite the pain of defeat, he expressed optimism about the future, stating that next season would bring a new era for the club with fresh minds and a renewed focus on teamwork.
Alonso did not rule out further signings, saying that the team needs to build cohesion and come together as a unit before the start of next season. With a clean slate, Real Madrid will look to rebuild and regain their competitive edge in the coming months.
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45704735/real-madrid-psg-club-world-cup-xabi-alonso