Madrid Ready for “New Age” After PSG Loss

Following a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinal, manager Xabi Alonso declared that Real Madrid will begin the upcoming season with a clean slate.

In the absence of suspended defender Dean Huijsen and injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alonso, who assumed his position just weeks prior, opted for a four-man defensive formation, a departure from the five-man setup that had proven successful earlier in the competition.

This tactical adjustment saw Gonzalo García, a standout performer in the tournament, join forces with star forward Kylian Mbappé, who had recently regained full fitness after recovering from an illness that sidelined him for a significant portion of the competition; however, the change did not yield the desired results.

Paris Saint-Germain swiftly capitalized on Real’s vulnerabilities in defence, scoring twice within the opening nine minutes, leaving the LaLiga team struggling to compete.

“We conceded two early goals and struggled to regain our composure,” Alonso stated. “It was a disappointing defeat, and we have to acknowledge that we were not at our best today.”

Madrid did not introduce any substantial alterations during the intermission, with Alonso informing reporters that he felt the team had opportunities to score prior to making a series of substitutions midway through the second half.

“We encountered some challenges at various moments, and it is often beneficial to recognize our errors so that we can learn from them for the future,” he commented.

Although the sting of defeat would remain, Alonso assured supporters that the future held promise and did not dismiss the possibility of acquiring additional players.

“We will embark on a new chapter after a period of rest, with renewed perspectives,” he announced. “Our objective is to develop a cohesive team, with everyone collaborating seamlessly. We were just one game away from our goal, and the outcome is disheartening. We shall see what the future holds.”