Xabi Alonso refuses to provide any hints on his preferred starting XI – ‘It’s too early’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Al-Hilal mid-next week and will look to get off to a flying start given how the recent campaign ended for them.

With changes in the management, the personnel and the ideologies, it remains to be seen what version of the team turns up on the turf in the United States.

Given the importance Florentino Perez and Co. have placed on the event, however, it is clear that the men in white will give their all to clinching the title and writing history.

Alonso’s sharp words

Speaking to the media during Real Madrid’s preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup, the new manager commented on the team’s training sessions under him and what one can expect from the team.

He began by providing a positive update on the team’s adaptation to his plans, saying,

“It’s been very positive, little by little you start to get to know them, get that much-needed contact, and little by little more players start arriving.,” he told DAZN.

Xabi Alonso did not provided much update. (Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images)

Elaborating on how it was vital for the team to adapt fast given the limited time before the start of the event, Alonso said,

“Well, everything has to be accelerated, because we have very little time to get to know each other and to train,” he said.

“We arrived here today, today Lunin, Vinicius, and Arda arrive, and we will start forming the team,” he added, providing an update on available players.

The Spanish tactician also transmitted confidence in the team’s ability to adapt to his philosophy given that he still had three training sessions to transmit his ideas.

“We have three training sessions before the match, but we came with great enthusiasm, with the ambition to have a good tournament, and to try to reach the final.”

Finally, the new coach was asked if it was too early to comment on the starting lineup he will deploy at Real Madrid, to which he calmly responded,

“Yes. It’s too early,” he noted.