Real Madrid will make their debut this Wednesday in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and head coach Xabi Alonso took a moment to reflect on his days as a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo.
After the successful tenure of Carlo Ancelotti came to an end, Real Madrid turned to Xabi Alonso to lead the team as their new head coach. The former midfielder took on the challenge following his time at Bayer Leverkusen and is set for his first appearance with the Spanish giants at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Ahead of the tournament debut, Alonso spoke about how his past experience alongside Cristiano Ronaldo will help him in this new chapter.
In a recent interview with DAZN, Xabi Alonso spoke about his first few weeks at Real Madrid. “We’re starting a new chapter, but the project doesn’t change. It’s still a winning project, the same as always at Real Madrid. Some things may change—faces, small details—but the spirit of the project stays the same,” he said.
“From the beginning, the feeling has been good, the connection with the players is good,” the coach added. “I like being close, I like to talk, give instructions, and make sure players train with quality, not just play with quality,” he explained regarding his approach to working with the squad.
Expanding on the topic, Xabi Alonso explained how his experience playing alongside stars like Ronaldo and Benzema has equipped him to relate to the current group of elite players at Real Madrid, including Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe.
“As a player, I had the experience of being with Cristiano and Karim. They’re very ambitious players—you need to know how to strike the right chords to keep that ambition alive,” the 43-year-old coach explained. “They’re very professional, they always want the best, and my role is to support and guide them so we maintain that level.”
How did Xabi Alonso perform alongside Ronaldo?
Xabi Alonso began his professional career in the 1999–2000 season with Real Sociedad, where he stayed until 2004, including a brief loan spell at Eibar. His breakthrough at the highest level came with a move to Liverpool, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2005.
His strong performances in England opened the door to Real Madrid, which he joined in 2009—the same year Cristiano Ronaldo arrived from Manchester United. They spent five seasons together, winning six titles, including the 2011–12 La Liga championship and the 2013–14 Champions League. Their time as teammates came to an end in 2014 when Alonso transferred to Bayern Munich, where he played until retiring in 2017.
Real Madrid ready for Club World Cup debut
This Wednesday afternoon, Real Madrid will make their first appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. They’ll face Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the opening match of Group H, taking place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The group’s other match, between Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg, will also be played Wednesday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
From: bolavip.com
