The coach reaches a milestone since his first match in the Club World Cup.
From the debut against Al Hilal to the run-up to the derby against Atlético Madrid. A short journey, but intense enough for Xabi Alonso to speak as someone who already knows first-hand the demands of managing Real Madrid.
Although the context has changed, the underlying message remains the same as on day one: work hard and continue to put the idea into practice on the pitch. It was precisely in that debut against Al Hilal, in the Club World Cup, that Xabi sat on the Real Madrid bench for the first time. There was no time to settle in. Suddenly, he found himself with a title at stake and the need to speed up processes.
The FIFA Club World Cup served as an opportunity to experiment with the team, gauge the players' response and begin to implement automatic responses. That Madrid side came up against an overwhelming PSG team that had just been crowned European champions. That 4-0 defeat in the semi-finals was a blow, but it was also the first real lesson of his time as Madrid coach. A lesson full of certainties.
Since then, Xabi Alonso has sought to mould a team that would become more recognisable. Months later, he has succeeded. Mbappé has taken his competitive spirit to the next level. The defence, despite the absences, has become a reliable unit. And both the new signings and the players returning from injury are now fully integrated into the cause.
However, not everything has been plain sailing. Rodrygo's demotion from untouchable to spare part in just a few weeks forced Xabi to make some difficult decisions about how to allocate playing time. This dilemma with Vinicius resulted in a period of uncertainty for the Brazilian, whose role and status were called into question after he was left on the bench for two out of four matches.
That is, perhaps, the greatest achievement of this start to the season. The idea is no longer perceived as a simple sketch, but as a recognisable skeleton. Xabi Alonso's Madrid has a plan with virtues, but also with elements that need to be refined. And the calendar does not offer much room for contemplation. The next step is the derby against Atlético Madrid, one of those tests where one of the many objectives is to maintain the idea under pressure.