Madrid Universal
·6 de octubre de 2025
Three issues Xabi Alonso needs to rectify at Real Madrid during international break

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Yahoo sportsMadrid Universal
·6 de octubre de 2025
Real Madrid fans have plenty to cheer about right now. The team sits at the top of La Liga after a strong 3-1 victory against Villarreal, with their title rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both dropping points.
As the players head into the international break with a comfortable two-point lead, everything seems to be going according to plan.
But if you look closer, you will see that not everything is perfect at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Manager Xabi Alonso knows that despite the good results, some serious issues need fixing if the team wants to maintain their position at the top.
The recent losses to Atletico Madrid in the league and PSG in the Club World Cup have exposed weaknesses that can’t be ignored.
This break comes at the perfect time for Alonso to address these problems before the season gets even more demanding.
Xabi Alonso has a big task to manage. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Managing a team full of superstars might sound like a dream job, but for Alonso, it is becoming one of his biggest headaches.
Real Madrid’s budget is massive as their salary cap is more than double what Barcelona can spend.
This means their bench is filled with players who would be starting at almost any other club in the world.
Think about Endrick, for instance. The club paid around €60 million to bring him in, yet he barely gets any playing time. This story repeats with almost every substitute player, like Dani Ceballos.
Having such depth is great when injuries hit, but it is also creating problems. Every time Alonso makes a substitution, it causes talk and pressure.
Players’ agents get involved, creating drama that distracts from the team’s goals. Unlike most rival teams where it is clear who starts and who sits on the bench, at Real Madrid, every lineup decision becomes a talking point.
Alonso needs to find a way to keep everyone happy and focused on the team’s success. The players and their representatives need to understand that individual egos must come second to what’s best for the club.
Otherwise, these small issues could grow into bigger problems that disrupt the team’s almost perfect season so far.
Dean Huijsen has not been entirely convincing. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Another major concern for Alonso is at the heart of his defense. The team is missing what fans used to call a ‘centre-back leader’ – a reliable, safe player who focuses more on defending than attacking.
Sergio Ramos and Nacho used to fill this role perfectly, but since their departures, there has been a gap.
While Eder Militao’s return from two serious knee injuries has been nothing short of amazing, he and his partner Dean Huijsen form a pairing that is not convincing everyone, especially for the long run.
Huijsen arrived with a big reputation after impressing with the Spanish national team and at Bournemouth, but he’s struggled to adapt to Real Madrid’s demands.
His two red cards this season – one in the Club World Cup and another against Real Sociedad – show he can be reckless.
He also struggles when running with the ball and doesn’t have a truly defensive partner like Raul Asencio to cover for him.
Despite his height, he is not too great in the aerial duels, which was clear to see in the recent derby against Atletico.
Alonso needs to solve this defensive puzzle if Real Madrid want to keep clean sheets against tough opponents.
Perhaps the biggest issue facing Real Madrid right now is in the middle of the park.
Guler is not a replacement for Kroos or Modric. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
For years, the team was controlled by the genius of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
However, when these legends left, the club chose not to find direct replacements, and this decision is now showing its effects.
While Arda Guler has been a bright spot, he is a different type of player who is more focused on making runs into the box and scoring goals than controlling the tempo from deep positions.
Right now, Real Madrid are winning games thanks to their incredible attacking talent and physical strength.
When things get tough, players like Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe can create moments of magic to secure victories. But relying on individual brilliance is not a sustainable strategy for the entire season.
Alonso, who was himself a world-class pivot during his playing days, understands this better than anyone.
He sees the game from that position and knows the team needs a consistent leader in midfield who can control games and take pressure off the forwards.
Without this key player, Real Madrid might struggle in the biggest matches when individual talent alone is not enough to secure the win.
Finding or developing this player should be one of Alonso’s top priorities during this break.