Three ways Xabi Alonso can improve his team to turn the situation around at Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso’s days at Real Madrid appear numbered if the team’s form continues to follow the same trend, and there is a serious need to improve results quickly.

Reports suggest the game against Deportivo Alaves could be the manager’s final game in his new position, although a lot will depend on the result and the manner of its infliction.

From Alonso’s point of view, however, there is little time, and many a problem to fix for the side have looked dysfunctional for a while now. The situation, however, is not hopeless, for there appear to be a few straightforward ways to help them recover their form.

Madrid Universal brings you three ways Xabi Alonso can turn Real Madrid’s fortunes around.

Defend set-pieces better

One factor that closely correlates with all of Real Madrid’s defeats this season is the poor defending from set-pieces.

Barring the loss to Celta Vigo in La Liga, all three big game defeats for Los Blancos this season have been dictated by set-piece goals for the opposition – something that should not be happening at the level that Real Madrid operate at.

Real Madrid must improve defensively. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid conceded from three set-pieces in what was arguably their worst showing of the season. 

Alexis McAllister scored a header off a set-piece to inflict the blow on Real Madrid in the team’s defeat to Liverpool, while Manchester City also scored their equaliser against Real Madrid off a set-piece.

The team’s defending against set-pieces, thus, requires a serious revamp, especially in terms of marking the right men. After all, it was almost comical watching Arda Guler marking Erling Haaland given the height difference between the players.

Attack from the right-wing

What stood out in Real Madrid’s game against Manchester City was Rodrygo’s performance and goal scored from the right wing, and it was clear that the Blues did not anticipate that coming from a long way out.

With Vinicius Jr starting on the left flank and Kylian Mbappe also more comfortable drifting in from that side, teams have often overloaded their defensive resources on the left side to curb Real Madrid’s attack.

The predictable nature of Real Madrid’s game and buildup from the left flank, needless to say, does not help their case and helps the opposition plan better, given that they know exactly where the attacks are arriving from.

Los Blancos, thus, must look to attack equally from both wings to keep opposition defences under uncertainty. Rodrygo’s return to form and Franco Mastantuono’s return, needless to say, will help the team in that respect.

Penalty box poacher

Kylian Mbappe has well and truly embraced the goalscoring responsibility at Real Madrid this season and is scoring goals for fun. What the team are lacking, however, is a genuine aerial threat given that Mbappe usually scores grounded goals.

Real Madrid can’t be overly reliant on Mbappe. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras gives the side two potent full-backs who can deliver lethal crosses. However, there is no player who can capitalise on such chances with a predator’s instinct.

Mbappe may not provide an aerial threat, but Endrick has that potential in him, as seen in his cameo against Manchester City, where he came close to scoring a header that clipped the crossbar. Vinicius Jr. too, in fact, had two decent headers.

Real Madrid have historically been clinical in the air with lethal aerial threats in the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema, and it is time they look to unlock that facet of their game once more.