Real Madrid grant Xabi Alonso absolute authority over who starts and who sits out | OneFootball

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos spoke out in a recent interview and insisted that the team’s lack of defensive collaboration was the single biggest lacuna in their game.

“It’s very important for the team to feel like they’re defending as one unit. This gives you more energy when regaining the ball,” he said when asked to provide the young dressing room advice.

Now, it appears that Florentino Perez and Co. have accepted that the defensive slackness is holding back the team and have given the manager full freedom over the squad.

Everybody is the same

As relayed by SPORT, Xabi Alonso has decided that no player will have any privileges in the dressing room as a bona fide starter.

This means every player must earn their spot in the lineup through their effort in training regardless of their name.

No Real Madrid player will enjoy the luxury under Xabi Alono. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This decision, in particular, is directed towards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius, both of whom are seen to be undroppable but whose disharmony and lack of defensive commitment has hurt the team.

As the two biggest names on the side, one never expected a time to arrive when one of the two would be benched.

Anyone can be benched

Now, however, Alonso is clear that either player can be benched if they refuse to serve the defensive duties assigned to them.

The hierarchy system that ruled at the club for so many years, thus, is set to end and Xabi Alonso is at the crux of it all as a pioneering force.

The coming season, needless to say, could see drastic changes and big names being benched.

The Real Madrid board has complete faith in Alonso and see the positive progress in the team in the initial weeks. The manager, thus, has been bestowed with all the privileges and power to take drastic decisions and shape the team to his liking.