“There was a theme in Xabi Alonso’s first post-match press conference as Real Madrid head coach: improvement will take time. After Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in their opening game in the Club World Cup, Alonso portrayed a calm figure who knew his side were still early in the process. … After a season when Madrid looked porous out of possession regardless of their defensive shape, one thing Alonso needs to improve is the team’s structure without the ball. Madrid’s 4-3-3 against Al Hilal morphed into a 4-4-2 when Alonso’s side were defending in a mid-block, with Jude Bellingham or Vinicius Junior slightly behind Gonzalo Garcia. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
The Alexander-Arnold and Rodrygo dynamic showed Real Madrid’s problems will take time to fix
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“… It was a passage of play that featured no-look passes, a backheeled volley, and a game of keep-ball that turned a Champions League match into ‘a kind of rondo’. Peter Bosz was furious. Furious with his own PSV players. … Back in January, PSV were facing a callow Liverpool side who were down to 10 men and trailing 3-2 in the closing minutes. Against the better judgment of Bosz, the PSV players had decided to showboat. … A couple of months later, in South America, Corinthians were beating Palmeiras 1-0 on aggregate in the second leg of the Sao Paulo state championship final. As the clock ran down, Memphis Depay stood with both feet on top of the ball. …”
Scissors Kick 