The big question Real Madrid's locker room is asking about Xabi Alonso

This past Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti said goodbye to Real Madrid in the match against RealSociedad. Just a few days later, Xabi Alonso was introduced as the new coach of the white team. The schedule doesn't let up and already sets the next goal for the Madrid squad.

In mid-June, the Club World Cup will be played, the last title at stake in a demanding season. Xabi Alonso has only a few days to get to know the squad and prepare the team. For this reason, he has already set the start date for training at Valdebebas.

It will be next June 9, although he will only be able to count on five first-team players in these initial sessions. We're talking about Ceballos, Fran García, Asencio, Lucas, and Rodrygo. The rest will join later for various reasons.

there's no time to plan

The Club World Cup represents a great opportunity to win a new title. However, at Real Madrid they are aware that it could also be a setback for Xabi Alonso's work. The coach will barely have time to prepare for the tournament due to national team commitments and the presence of several injured players.

Carvajal and Militao are pushing their chances to be ready in time after their serious injuries, while Rüdiger does seem to be available. Meanwhile, Endrick, Alaba, Mendy, and Camavinga are practically ruled out of participating.

Given this scenario, it's very likely that Xabi Alonso will have to turn to the youth academy to face the Club World Cup. Nevertheless, the signings of Carreras, Arnold, and Huijsen will expand the coach's options. The squad could be very limited, especially considering the moment of the season when the tournament is played.

xabi alonso starts training with his preferred formation

According to the latest reports, there are already some doubts about the formations that Xabi Alonso will use in the locker room. Some Real Madrid players are wondering about the five-man defense, since it's a setup they're not used to.

For now, in the first training sessions, Xabi Alonso will turn to youth players to complete the sessions along with the five first-team players he has available. For them, it will be an important test that could help them earn a spot. In addition, some will have to travel to the United States as part of the squad to play in the Club World Cup.