After a night of humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso has admitted his side will “start a new age” following their 4-0 loss in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
The defeat exposed Madrid’s need for squad adjustments, particularly in defense and midfield, where PSG’s Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, and João Neves ran riot.
The match at the MetLife Stadium not only ended Madrid’s hopes of lifting the global title but also signaled the final bow of Luka Modrić, one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.
Xabi Alonso: “Real Madrid will start a new age after a break”
Missing key defensive figures in Dean Huijsen (suspended) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (injured), Alonso’s decision to abandon the back-five system that had served them well earlier in the tournament backfired spectacularly.
Alonso, who was only recently appointed as Real Madrid’s new manager, admitted his tactical shift left the team exposed as PSG netted twice inside the opening 10 minutes and dominated from start to finish.
“We were two goals down and we couldn’t find our footing. It was a painful defeat, we must admit that we were not up to standard today,” Alonso said.
After failing to make changes at half-time, Alonso introduced several substitutes but the damage had already been done.
“We had some shortcomings at some points and sometimes it’s good to see our mistakes and you can draw lessons for the future,” he told reporters.
The 42-year-old also confirmed that Madrid is already planning reinforcements for the 2025/26 season:
“We haven’t talked about it during the Club World Cup but from now on we’re open to making improvements. We are always looking to improve and there’s room for improvement.”
Looking ahead to the new campaign, Alonso added:
“We start a new age after a break, with fresh minds. We want to build a team that plays as a unit, with everyone playing together.
“We were one match away and it’s painful and let’s see what happens now.”
Luka Modrić Bids Real Madrid Farewell
The night also marked an emotional moment for Madrid as Luka Modrić played his final game for the club.
The 39-year-old Croatian, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, is set to join AC Milan, bringing an end to a legendary 12-year career in Madrid.
Modrić made 597 appearances for the club, winning 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles, four La Liga crowns, and the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
Xabi Alonso, who was a former teammate of Modrić during his playing days at Madrid, paid tribute:
“This is not the desired end, it’s a bitter end, but he won’t be remembered for today’s game but for other great ones.”
“He’s a legend of world football and of Real Madrid. He’ll be remembered for many more good things than for the 25 minutes he played today.”
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also spoke of Modrić’s departure with emotion:
“Modrić always gets a standing ovation, not only from the Madridistas. He’s a great player, a great teammate and we’ll miss him.”
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