Xabi Alonso is Real Madrid's new hope and the results he's achieving are truly positive for the club. Florentino knew the club needed a radical change and decided to sideline Carlo. The Italian didn't manage to get the most out of all the players he had and the results weren't the desired ones.
Real Madrid finished a year practically empty-handed and there were many footballers who didn't show any desire when it came to pressing. Even so, Carlo kept them on the field, something for which he was heavily criticized. Now, one of Xabi Alonso's decisions has negatively affected Éder Militao and Antonio Rüdiger.
Éder Militao and Antonio Rüdiger are in trouble
Antonio Rüdiger has been Real Madrid's star center-back for several seasons, but lately his level has dropped drastically. Xabi Alonso isn't influenced by names and didn't hesitate for a second to sideline him and put him in the background. Meanwhile, Éder Militao, who had spent years in the shadows, has become an important piece.
Éder Militao has had problems due to injuries, which haven't spared him at all lately. Since the start of this season, Xabi Alonso has been counting on him and giving him the minutes Ancelotti didn't provide. Alongside Dean Huijsen, he's forming a solid center of defense.
In the last match, Xabi Alonso decided to place Álvaro Carreras in the center of defense, a strange move considering he's a full-back. To everyone's surprise, Carreras excelled and achieved an almost historic milestone at Real Madrid just after arriving. He won possession 16 times (16 times), something last achieved by Sergio Ramos in 2019.
Álvaro Carreras, a new option
Álvaro Carreras is a full-back, but he's shown he has the level to play as a center-back and Xabi Alonso has made the right call. The coach is making the right decisions, but Éder Militao and Antonio Rüdiger are coming out worse off from the latest one. Dean is the only untouchable in the center of defense and the other spot will go to whoever earns it.
If Éder Militao and Antonio Rüdiger already had a lot of competition between them, now Álvaro Carreras joins in, who could end up as a center-back. We'll have to keep a close eye on Madridists so we don't miss any updates.