Xabi Alonso Reacts to Real Madrid Losing to PSG: Real Madrid’s ambitions at the FIFA Club World Cup were brought to an abrupt halt in Riyadh on Wednesday, suffering a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in a semi-final that laid bare the challenges still ahead for new manager Xabi Alonso.
In a match effectively decided within the opening half-hour, PSG struck early and with authority—Fabian Ruiz scoring twice in the 6th and 24th minutes, flanking a 9th-minute goal from Ousmane Dembélé. Gonçalo Ramos added the fourth late on, rounding off a display that underscored PSG’s cohesion and Madrid’s unfamiliarity with one another under a new regime.
Real Madrid vs PSG: Xabi Alonso Reacts to Real Madrid Losing to PSG
“It was a shame,” said Alonso post-match, reflecting on what was the first defeat of his tenure. “PSG is a team that has been built over time. We’re just starting.”
That start, for now, has a stuttering feel. Alonso, appointed with considerable anticipation following his work at Bayer Leverkusen, is still acquainting himself with the realities of Madrid’s dressing room and the unforgiving expectations that accompany it. His assessment, while candid, betrayed few illusions.
“There were two harsh blows early, and we weren’t present. We needed composure. Conceding the third before the break didn’t help,” he said.
Madrid arrived in Saudi Arabia buoyed by a run of encouraging domestic form but were quickly exposed by a PSG side that, if not vintage, was ruthlessly efficient. The contrast in tactical rhythm and technical cohesion was telling.
Alonso, philosophical in defeat, chose to frame the result as a necessary milestone in Madrid’s long-term rebuild.
“This match will teach us. We fell short, and it hurts, but I leave with clear ideas about where we are and what we need to become,” he said.
Tactically, Alonso adjusted his press mid-game—shifting from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 in a bid to contain PSG’s midfield rotations—but to little avail. His openness to critique suggested a manager aware that reputations in Madrid are built on silverware, not sentiment.
“This won’t define us,” he said. “This is a restart from zero, not from where we ended tonight.”
For Madrid, the road forward likely involves reinforcements, internal recalibration, and time—something rarely afforded in the capital, but now more essential than ever.
As PSG move on to contest the final, Real Madrid exit a tournament they have historically dominated, reminded once again that rebuilding in theory is easier than on the pitch.
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