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Real Madrid’s hopes of lifting the FIFA Club World Cup came to a crashing halt after a humbling 4-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, marking the first major setback in the Xabi Alonso era.
A night to forget for Los Blancos
On July 9, Real Madrid suffered a heavy blow at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final. The French side ran riot with a dominant performance, led by Fabian Ruiz’s early brace (6', 24'), Ousmane Dembele’s clinical finish (9'), and a late strike from Gonçalo Ramos (87'). The result stunned Madridistas worldwide and marked the club’s first loss under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Despite coming into the tournament with momentum, Real Madrid were overrun from the start. Speaking after the game, Alonso didn’t hide his disappointment:
“It was a tricky situation after the first ten minutes. PSG is a project created over time and we're just starting out. It's not only because you want to be braver that you're better,” he told Real Madrid media.
A harsh learning curve for the new regime
Alonso’s words reflected both frustration and perspective. The Spaniard acknowledged that the match exposed critical gaps in his evolving team.
“There were two harsh blows and we weren't on the pitch. We needed to relax a bit and it was a shame to concede the third before half-time,” he said.
While PSG showcased their cohesiveness and maturity, Real Madrid appeared disjointed, particularly in the opening phases. Xabi Alonso noted the difference in preparation levels between the two clubs:
“Today, we have suffered against a team that's at a good level and we're just starting this new stage. There is a lot of margin. Today it hurts and our level wasn't good enough.”
Xabi Alonso: “This match will show us things”
While the result was painful, Alonso viewed the defeat as a critical milestone in his team’s development.
“This match will show us things for the future to compete at a better level than today. This is as far as we've come. We fell at the penultimate hurdle and it hurts,” he admitted.
However, the former midfield maestro remains optimistic:
“I'm leaving with certainties. This tournament has taught me many things about what we are and what we have to improve. Next season will be different, but I'll leave with clear certainties.”
Tactical reflections and a new beginning Alonso also addressed his tactical decisions, revealing how he attempted to shift momentum during the second half.
“We changed the pressing from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 with Gonzalo on the left,” he explained. “The analysis of the decisions will be looked at and I'm open to criticism. We're all together and this end won't mark us too much for the beginning of the next season.”
In a parting note filled with hope, he added:
“This will be a restart from 0, not from 98 that we have finished today.”
As PSG gear up for the Club World Cup final, Real Madrid must regroup. For Xabi Alonso, this defeat, though stinging, is part of a longer journey—one aimed at crafting a team capable of dominating Europe once again. With reinforcements expected and a clearer vision for the future, the Spanish giants are far from finished.
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