Xabi Alonso told 'he doesn't have the means' to implement his best tactic at Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso will soon be unveiled as Real Madrid's next coach, just in time to take them to the Club World Cup in June.
However, according to Julio Maldonado of Cope, Alonso will struggle to implement his three-man backline tactical approach.
"The first thing that comes to mind is whether he's going to use the three-man centre-back formation that he usually uses with Bayer Leverkusen," Maldonado said.
"He has a lot of game concepts, high pressing, getting in through the full-backs, but there's one very important thing he does, which is positioning the full-backs practically in the midfielder's area when Florian Wirtz, for example, drops back a lot.
"The positions have to be occupied, no matter who; they have to be occupied. Madrid is going to have spectacular tactical work with Xabi Alonso. Another thing is how the results are achieved, because many times the ball goes in or it doesn't. This is football, but there will be great tactical work, I have no doubt.
"The problem that Xabi Alonso may have is how to adapt the three central defenders, beyond the signings that may arrive. Right now, he doesn't have the means because he has Asensio and Tchouaméni to play as central defenders.
"We'll see if he finds a way to play with a three-man defence or uses a four-man defence.
"A four-man defence would worry him much more, especially because the full-backs can no longer position themselves as interior midfielders or it's much more difficult to do so. Maybe he could try."
A three-man defence may indeed be difficult to replicate at Real Madrid, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold coming in this summer, the right-wing-back position is already sorted.
