The arrival of Xabi Alonso as head coach of Real Madrid was met with optimism and excitement. A club legend, tactically astute, and fresh off an impressive stint at Bayer Leverkusen — he seemed the perfect fit. But just weeks into pre-season, warning signs are beginning to emerge.

From Rodrigo Goes’ uncertain role to defensive instability and forced experimentation, Alonso’s tactical project is off to a rocky start.

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😕 Rodrigo’s Rollercoaster Form

Rodrigo began the summer in high spirits, determined to bounce back after an underwhelming finish to the 2024–25 season under Ancelotti. But in a recent friendly against Pachuca, he was left on the bench the entire match — not even asked to warm up.

This came after:

• Positive signs in training camp
• Assurances from the coach
• A solid start in early friendlies

Now, Spanish outlet Marca reports growing internal doubts about whether Rodrigo fits Alonso’s preferred vertical midfield-focused system, which demands constant pressing and off-the-ball movement — areas where Rodrigo has struggled.

“Rodrigo didn’t even step onto the pitch. It was symbolic. A message, perhaps,” wrote Marca.

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🧩 Tactical Confusion in Defense

Against Pachuca, Real Madrid went down to 10 men early after a red card for Assenio in the 7th minute. Alonso was forced to reshuffle:

• Dropping Fran García into central defense
• Moving Tchouaméni to right-back
• Experimenting with overlapping centre-backs

The result? Disjointed structure, lack of transitions, and visible confusion in buildup phases.

Even seasoned players like Rüdiger and Alaba struggled to adapt to the dynamic shifts Alonso attempted mid-game. Some analysts suggested Alonso’s system was being “overloaded” before players fully understood its foundations.

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🧠 Xabi Alonso’s System: Not Clicking Yet?

While his tactics at Bayer Leverkusen earned praise for:

• Controlled buildup from the back
• High vertical lines
• Midfield rotations

…these same principles have yet to land effectively at Real Madrid.

Aspect	Bayer Leverkusen	Real Madrid (so far)
Pressing cohesion	High	Low
Build-up play	Structured	Scrambled
Role clarity	Clear	Unsettled
Rotation success	High	Mixed

It’s early days, but Real Madrid fans are already raising eyebrows, particularly after a 0–1 loss to Benfica in the Club World Cup.

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🧊 Rodrigo: Time Running Out?

Rodrigo’s spot in the starting XI is in danger. With young talent emerging and Real Madrid linked to names like Lautaro Martínez, it’s now or never for the 23-year-old.

“He used to be untouchable. Now he’s waiting for scraps,” a La Liga commentator said on El Chiringuito.

His versatility — winger, second striker, false 9 — is both his strength and curse. Under Alonso’s system, players need well-defined tactical roles, and Rodrigo currently fits none of them.

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✅ Conclusion

Xabi Alonso’s reign at Real Madrid is just beginning — but the warning signs are flashing. Tactical clarity, player confidence, and system adaptation must be resolved quickly if Los Blancos are to maintain their elite status in Spain and Europe.

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