Xabi Alonso issues two powerful messages to dressing room ahead of Elche clash | OneFootball

Real Madrid did not enter the international break on a high, for they lost one and drew one of their last two games before the hiatus.

The break, seemingly, arrived at a time when they were at their lowest point in the season and there is thus a lot of expectation ahead of tonight’s clash against Elche.

Just a month ago, Los Blancos took down the mighty Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu and then hosted Valencia at home to take them down by a 4-0 margin. Now, they will look to get back on a similar run.

Alonso’s plan

As relayed in a recent report by AS, Xabi Alonso is emphasising a message to the team that they must recover the version of themselves that they showed against Barcelona in El Clasico.

That includes the fighting spirit, the pressing, and the running that they showed against Hansi Flick’s side last month but seemingly lost immediately in its aftermath.

Alonso has send a strong message to the Real Madrid players. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

A big part of the responsibility of Alonso’s second message falls on Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Jude Bellingham.

The manager, after all, insists now that they must understand each other and distribute roles and tasks unlike before.

That implies that each player must stick to what they do best and deliver on the field in that respect so as to maximise their output. Straying into each other’s territories, after all, does not serve any party well.

The relationship between the trio is positive and the management have made it clear to them as to what falls under whose duties on the field. It will be interesting to see the chemistry they show later tonight.

After the game against Elche tonight, Real Madrid have three more difficult games on the road and how they start today will go a long way in deciding which way their momentum shifts. The stakes, needless to say, are high.