Xabi Alonso has made a strong impression in the Spanish capital and his team is starting to improve more and more. Real Madrid is on the right track in the Club World Cup and the adjustments have been the right ones. In fact, footballers like Alexander-Arnold are showing they're at a high level.
Others like Dani Carvajal are still waiting for their moment, but his case is different due to the injury he had to overcome. In any case, the full-back is ready and it's only a matter of time before he's back to his old self. Interestingly, Xabi Alonso has a plan for the flank and it's likely it won't involve either Carvajal or Alexander-Arnold.
Xabi Alonso's plan
Xabi Alonso has little experience as a professional coach, but it's clear he has an extraordinary talent. In recent years, he has achieved unbelievable things with Bayer Leverkusen, a factor that brought him to Real Madrid. Los Merengues urgently needed a change and their former footballer was the ideal person to carry it out.
Carlo Ancelotti couldn't keep the positive momentum he had in recent years and ended up seeing the exit door. The Italian didn't make the right decisions and Florentino saw it was time for a change. In addition to the poor decisions, injuries like Dani Carvajal's have made everything much more complicated for the club.
In order to achieve it, Real Madrid has brought in stars like Alexander-Arnold, who seems to be a complete success. Even though the club currently has great full-backs, Xabi Alonso may have another plan in mind. There's a footballer who isn't a defender who has a lot of depth and intensity.
Neither Dani Carvajal nor Alexander-Arnold
Although Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold are great full-backs, putting Fede Valverde as a wing-back could be a complete success. With his characteristics, Fede could defend and attack non-stop and be at a high level in both areas. The Uruguayan is one of the best in the world and for years has shown he can play anywhere.
Fede Valverde could be the key for those matches in which Xabi Alonso needs a good balance between attack and defense. At some point, it's likely Dani Carvajal or Alexander-Arnold will have to wait their turn. Although we don't know for sure, we could see the midfielder as a wing-back at some point this season.