Football: Alonso’s interpretation of the real blam: “New era is just beginning”

The first defeat as a coach of Real Madrid was a violent type of activity for the successful Xabi Alonso. 0: 4 against Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain, absolutely without a chance and football-like before 77,542 spectators in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, which the 43-year-old would only like to win in the USA.

“It is a painful defeat,” admitted Alonso drawn by the heat in the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford not far from New York. But after the desolate appearance with two self-defined goals in the first nine minutes, last year’s master coach from Bayer Leverkusen absolutely wanted to keep the sovereignty over the bitter tournament.

“The game marks the end of this season, not the beginning of the next,” said Alonso not only once in the subsequent press conference, but several times. For him it was still the end of the era of his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti. “We are just starting a new era,” said Alonso. “I take a lot of knowledge from this tournament.” It had revealed a lot about his team. One that consists more of single players.

“Time for a restart”

His work actually only begins after the vacation, was Alonso’s message. “It’s time for a restart.” On many levels, also with the staff. The transfer market is just open – and real could strike. “During the Club World Cup, we did not talk about the squad planning. Now we are open to improvements,” said the BASKE: “We are always trying to improve. And there is still potential for improvement.”

Especially since a year after Toni Kroos, another large midfield champion leaves: Luca Modric, the six-time Champions League winner, who will be 40 in September, ran as a substitute in the white real jersey. “It is not the hoped -for end, rather a bitter end,” said Alonso depressed.

The Croatian will not be remembered for this game against PSG, “but for many great games,” said Alonso: “Luca is an icon of Real Madrid, a legend. He will be remembered for much more good than for the 25 minutes he played. It is not the best farewell.”

And for Alonso, as a coach of the Spanish record champion, it was not a nice start than a real coach. “It is the first defeat,” he groaned after game number six at the club World Cup, which will end on Sunday (9:00 p.m./Sat.1 and DAZN) with the final between Paris and FC Chelsea.

“The bad news for me is that it won’t be my last defeat,” said Alonso before leaving the final stadium disappointed.