RealMadridConfidencial Not only is Mbappé K.O, the Real Madrid player who played 'sick' against Al Hilal
A Real Madrid footballer played the match against Al Hilal without being at 100%
Yesterday Real Madrid played a poor match against Al Hilal. It was the team's debut in the Club World Cup and they didn't step up, as they were outplayed by the Saudi team. For many, the match was a big letdown, because it was Xabi's first game and there was a lot of excitement.
It's clear that they need to train more to grasp concepts and adapt to Xabi's ideas. In addition, Kylian Mbappé was missing in attack due to illness, and after the match it was discovered that Asencio was also sick. That was what led to the change at halftime.
"Asencio was on a course of antibiotics and we've had to substitute him. They were demanding and Al Hilal was exhausted," said Xabi Alonso in the post-match press conference. The Madrid youth product didn't play his best match, as he made a very serious mistake and wasn't particularly accurate.
Much to improve
At Real Madrid, they're fully aware that they need to change many things in the coming weeks. The team's goal is to compete for the Club World Cup and start the next season well, but they need to take it step by step. Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of the team for 4 years and now Xabi needs time to instill his approach.
The coaching staff already knew that the first match was going to be tough, but it helps to spot mistakes and start improving. By seeing how the team approaches matches, Xabi can better identify the team's shortcomings to find solutions. That's why he's optimistic about what's to come.
Just getting started
Xabi himself didn't hesitate to remind everyone in the press conference that this is just the beginning. They've had very few training sessions and some haven't even been with the group for 3 days. It's normal that the team hasn't played well, because they've been performing poorly for many months.
At Madrid, they're very optimistic and have a lot of trust in Xabi Alonso and his staff. They're pushing the players hard in training, making important tactical corrections for their performance on the field.
More posts: