Xabi Alonso has wasted no time getting to work at Real Madrid, as preparations intensify ahead of the Club World Cup debut. The Basque tactician is determined to leave his mark early, with his coaching staff already implementing new strategies to shape the team during these crucial first weeks under his leadership.

One of the biggest criticisms aimed at Real Madrid last season was the lack of defensive commitment from some of the attacking players. Too often, defensive duties were left to the deeper midfielders and defenders, creating imbalances in the team’s structure. Xabi Alonso wants to fix that, and fast.

His footballing vision is clear: he wants Real Madrid to control matches, not be controlled. That means maintaining possession and playing proactive football for the full 90 minutes. But it also means one thing above all: pressing aggressively after losing the ball. According to Diario AS, Alonso's top priority in training has been teaching his squad how to win the ball back quickly after possession is lost, a key feature of his tactical philosophy.

This high-pressure approach is being drilled into the team daily, as Alonso lays the foundations for a Real Madrid that dominates both with and without the ball.

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