Club World Cup: Alonso Reveals Why Real Madrid Failed to Beat Al Hilal

Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso, has explained why his team failed to secure a win against Al Hilal in their opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup, played on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia scoring for Real Madrid in the first half before Ruben Neves equalised for Al Hilal from the penalty spot. Alonso, speaking during his post-match interview, admitted that his side lacked composure and control, particularly in the first half.

“We lacked a lot of things in the first half, both on and off the ball,” Alonso said. “I asked the players at half-time to be more patient with the ball, to stop rushing. We were definitely better in the second half.”

Alonso, who was recently appointed as Real Madrid’s head coach, stressed the need for balance in the team’s play. He acknowledged that while there was some improvement after the break, it was not enough to claim all three points.

“What we need to improve? The balance on the ball,” he added. “In the second half, we had longer phases of possession, we got closer to their box, it was better. It wasn’t enough, but it was better.”

The Spaniard’s comments reflect his intention to build a team capable of dominating possession and controlling the pace of games. Real Madrid will now look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures as they continue their Club World Cup campaign.

With Kylian Mbappe missing the clash due to illness and several players still settling in, Alonso has made it clear that consistency and composure will be key in the matches ahead.