Xabi Alonso will abandon his favoured setup for a new formation at Real Madrid | OneFootball

According to a fresh report from MARCA, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is already shaping the identity of his team and it starts with a firm tactical decision.

As such, the Spanish coach is leaning towards a 4-3-3 formation as the blueprint for the next phase of the club’s evolution.

Alonso has been keenly studying Real Madrid’s recent matches, and he is not doing it alone. Analyst Benat Llapin, who works closely with the coach, was present at several of Los Blancos’ games, gathering in-depth data on player behaviour, spacing, and positional play.

The result of this analysis? A plan focused on defensive organisation anchored by a flexible but fundamentally 4-3-3 system.

Why a 4-3-3?

Interestingly, this won’t be the only setup in Alonso’s tactical arsenal, but it will be the foundation.

Xabi Alonso will use a 4-3-3 setup at Real Madrid. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

The reasoning is sound that Real Madrid are not currently suited to a three-centre-back formation, particularly with ongoing injury concerns around key defenders like Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba.

For now, Alonso is working with Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen as his available senior centre-backs for the Club World Cup. Support will come from youth players like Jacobo Ramon and Aguado, with Jesus Vallejo no longer in the picture.

Significantly, Alonso does not want to pull Aurelien Tchouameni out of midfield to cover defence, as he sees the Frenchman as a vital cog in the engine room, not a makeshift centre-half.

For what it is worth, the message is clear that Alonso is bringing discipline, structure, and tactical maturity to Real Madrid.

The 4-3-3 system is just the beginning, and with a manager committed, every detail will count.

For now, Madridistas can be confident that their team is being entrusted to a coach who not only understands the club’s DNA but is also prepared to modernise it with a clear, intelligent plan.