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·10. Juli 2025

Real Madrid - Xabi Alonso: "This match hurts, but ..."

Heavily beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Xabi Alonso chose to focus on the lessons learned from the setback rather than dwell on frustration with Real Madrid.

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For the newly appointed Madrid coach, this match will serve as a benchmark for the club’s ongoing project. He made his intentions clear on the club’s official website:

I leave with confidence. This tournament has taught me a lot about who we are and what we need to improve.

Outplayed from the opening minutes and conceding twice in less than 10 minutes, Los Merengues were never able to reverse the momentum against a dominant PSG side:

After ten minutes, the situation was already complicated. Paris is a mature project. We are just getting started. This match shows us exactly what we need to fix in order to progress.

Despite the disappointment, the Spanish manager is already looking ahead to next season: