As Real Madrid prepare for a new La Liga campaign with plenty on and off the pitch, they must make the right moves. The home team is particularly hard hit with the absence of key midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. These legs have been key to the team’s success throughout the seasons and years. Joint bad luck Jack Wilshere Not only was Modric injured, but Kroos’s retirement last year has left a massive void in the midfield. It was a loss that contributed heavily to the team’s shocking underachieving season last year. The pressure is thus on new manager Xabi Alonso to quickly and efficiently rebuild the squad’s spirit and mentality and remedy these long ongoing quagmires.
Alonso steps into his role after a notable playing career and a brief managerial stint, raising questions about his ability to lead the team back to its former glory. Real Madrid opens the regular 2023 campaign with a visit from Espanyol on August 19. Fans are counting down the minutes to see how creative an approach Alonso plans to take against this game! His experience having run the Old Trafford playbook will likely inform his tactics. He has to navigate a pretty big learning curve as he makes the jump from player to coach.
Midfield Gaps and Their Consequences
This, along with the absences of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, have rendered Real Madrid’s midfield uninspiring. Modric, one of the best playmakers in the world, is irreplaceable. At the same time, Kroos’s international retirement last summer was the last vestige of an era gone by for the national team. Their combined experience and skill significantly contributed to Real Madrid’s past successes, and their loss is expected to affect the team’s dynamics.
Last season, the team struggled in crucial matches, culminating in a disappointing group-stage exit at the Club World Cup, where they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. The tournament exposed the obvious — a complete lack of a cohesive midfield. So Alonso has to very quickly establish a working connection between his team’s defense and attack.
Real Madrid’s current squad will struggle to constantly hold possession and open up goal-scoring chances with an absence of their senior midfielders. Alonso needs to fill in these gaps to flourish. Constructing a young, development-focused, competitive team that can challenge for titles this season and beyond is the goal.
Defensive Reinforcements and New Signings
In reaction to their Shaq T last season Real Madrid has massively reinforced their defensive line, bringing in three summer arrivals to do so. One of those is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who transferred from Liverpool for $11.3 million. Those Premier League skills are what complements his overall game, making him an ideal player to help shore up Real Madrid’s shaky defense. Further, Alvaro Carreras was signed from Benfica for $57.7 million and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth for $67 million.
These acquisitions signal Real Madrid’s commitment to improving their defensive performance after last season’s shortcomings. The key challenge is integrating these new players. We need to pool them into a collective identity that gels impressively with yesterday’s roster. Building that synergy between the defense, midfield and attacking front will be critical to accomplishing success in the knockout stage matches ahead.
Alonso will have to devise strategies that maximize the abilities of these new signings. He will need to address the voids Modric and Kroos’ absence has created. Making sure that the defense fits in effortlessly with the midfield will be key to constructing a championship caliber side.
Attack Under Scrutiny
Even though Real Madrid has made good improvements in defense so far, there are still questions over the attacking front. We know how good Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo have been. They’ve made a name for themselves with their inconsistency at becoming a team that converts their opportunities into goals. Alonso is going to have to come up with a plan that encourages more effective interplay and movement between these attackers and the midfield.
The connection between the attack and midfield has arguably been the biggest issue for Alonso going into this new season. Having a consistent bridge between these two worlds of the field is important. Most importantly, it’ll make soccer more successful at scoring goals and winning games.
With that first game against Espanyol fast approaching, this has new fans bubbling with excitement. Fans are extremely excited to see how Alonso addresses these concerns on the pitch. A strong start will be essential for laying the groundwork for the rest of the season and rebuilding confidence among players and supporters alike.
