Coach Alonso promises 'new era' for Real Madrid after heavy defeat to PSG

TPO - Coach Xabi Alonso affirmed that Real Madrid will open a new chapter after the heavy 0-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Without defender Dean Huijsen due to suspension and Trent Alexander-Arnold due to injury, coach Alonso, who only took charge a few weeks ago, switched to a 4-defender formation, instead of the 5-defender formation that helped Real play solidly in previous rounds.

The change allowed young star Gonzalo Garcia to start alongside Kylian Mbappe, who had just recovered from missing most of the tournament due to health issues. However, the adjustment was ineffective as Real's defense continued to show gaps.

PSG quickly exploited the laxity in Real's defense, scoring two goals in the first nine minutes of the match, leaving the La Liga representative completely outclassed.

“We were two goals down too early and could not regain control of the game,” said coach Alonso. “This is a painful defeat. We have to admit that we played below our best today.”

Real made no adjustments after the break, as according to coach Alonso, the team still had a few scoring opportunities before he made a series of personnel changes in the middle of the second half.

“There are areas where we are lacking, and sometimes seeing mistakes helps us learn lessons for the future,” he said.

Although the defeat left many regrets, coach Alonso still committed to bringing more positive things to Real next season, and did not rule out the possibility of more new players arriving at Santiago Bernabeu.

“After the break, we will start a new era with a fresh spirit and mindset,” coach Alonso emphasized. “We want to build a real team, where everyone plays for each other. We are only one step away from the final, which is very painful. Now let's wait and see what happens next."

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Trong Dat

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hlv-alonso-hua-hen-ky-nguyen-moi-cho-real-madrid-sau-that-bai-dam-truoc-psg-post1758976.tpo