Alonso Faces Immediate Pressure After Al-Hilal Stumble

Xabi Alonso's debut as Real Madrid's coach was met with immediate pressure as his team stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener. The result highlighted the challenge ahead for the 43-year-old Spaniard, who is tasked with delivering instant success after leaving Bayer Leverkusen for the demanding environment of the 15-time European champions.

Alonso acknowledged the need for time, stating that he had only been working with the team for nine days. Real Madrid's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed in the absence of key players like Dani Carvajal, Antonio Ruediger, and Eder Militao. New additions, Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, struggled to solidify the defense.

The team's attacking options were limited due to the absence of Kylian Mbappe and the injured Endrick. Gonzalo Garcia, a young academy product, scored a goal but missed several opportunities. Tactically, Alonso seemed to revert to Real Madrid's traditional 4-3-3 formation, abandoning the three-centre-back system he had used successfully at Leverkusen.

Jude Bellingham's deeper, central role provided a positive aspect, filling the creative void left by Toni Kroos's retirement. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo showed glimpses of threat but were affected by the conditions. With upcoming matches against Pachuca and RB Salzburg, Alonso faces a race against time to implement his vision on a squad accustomed to winning. The pressure is already mounting on Real Madrid's new coach, who is expected to deliver trophies.