Germany icon warns Xabi Alonso about Real Madrid superstar duo – ‘Will be hard to make both defend more’ | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso has got off to a fine start to life at Real Madrid despite his first game ending in a draw. After all, the team has shown tangible improvement from that night against Al-Hilal and was significantly better against both Pachuca and RB Salzburg.

The manager now faces a tough challenge in Juventus in the Round of 16 of the event, however, he will face the Italians with Kylian Mbappe available in what comes as a massive boost to his plans.

Real Madrid looked relatively lost in attack without the Frenchman and will look to be more threatening in the next game with Mbappe back in the loop.

A small concern, however, is how the manager will compensate for the Frenchman’s lack of defensive contribution.

Jurgen Klinsmann speaks

Speaking to MARCA in a recent interaction, German legend and World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann was asked about Real Madrid’s tactical balance and how Xabi Alonso would deal with the dynamics moving forward.

The member of the Technical Study Group of the FIFA Club World Cup, however, revealed that he saw it to be complicated given the need for all 11 players on the field to contribute defensively in today’s game, something that is difficult at Real Madrid.

“The teams with Messi are the only ones that can afford to defend with only 10. Even Real Madrid is trying to get Mbappe and Vinicius to step back to defend.”

Alonso could have problems getting Mbappe and Vini to defend, as per Klinsmann. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“What if I’m convinced that Xabi Alonso will make it? No, the truth [laughs]. Mbappe is no longer a child and Vinicius sees that they don’t defend either, and he doesn’t do it much either,” he added on the difficulty Alonso will face.

Elaborating on how the manager must address the situation of the forward duo who are both some of the finest strikers of the ball but defensively reluctant, Alonso said,

“But they are two personalities that Xabi has to manage, and surely the team will manage to compensate for everything and get the best out of the two of them. In PSG, for example, those two years with Neymar, Mbappe, Messi didn’t work.”

Interestingly, Klinsmann even went on to add that Real Madrid’s new signing, Franco Mastantuono, was a defensive liability in his former club despite his age and how the manager must look to change his role on the field.

“In River Plate, the same thing happens with Mastantuono. They are also trying to integrate him into the gear, because he doesn’t do much in defence either.”

“But yes, I agree that for Xabi it will be hard to make both defend more,” he concluded.