Real Madrid is the most successful team in Champions League history. Many would argue that they are the Champions League. There is not a single greater love story than Real Madrid and the old Big Ears Trophy.
Last season, though, Real Madrid surrendered the Champions League trophy to PSG. After getting knocked out by Arsenal, this signalled the beginning of the end for legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Under Xabi Alonso, many would have assumed that Real Madrid would contend for the Champions League again. And look, they still might. However, it would take a miracle this season.
And, no, the reason is not Xabi Alonso.
Clear-as-day reason why Real Madrid won't win the Champions League
The reason why Real Madrid will not win the Champions League is that they lack a world-class midfielder.
I know, I know. There's Jude Bellingham. But he is not an out-and-out midfielder, and he's being asked to play in a variety of different positions under Xabi Alonso. The same could be said for Fede Valverde.
The last five Champions League winners (two of those being Real Madrid), all had a world-class midfielder as their centerpiece. Think about Vitinha, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, N'Golo Kante.
Not all of them are playmakers, not all of them are controllers, not all of them are destroyers. They all have/had their own unique playing styles that their coaches could use as a centerpiece to build their team around.
Real Madrid does not have this.
It feels like a broken record, spinning round and round in fans' ears. Everybody knows that Real Madrid hasn't replaced Toni Kroos or Luka Modric, and now, that will be clear for the whole world to see.
Context matters, and Xabi Alonso has a future plan in mind. The likes of Frano Mastantuono and Arda Guler, to name just a few, are players who might have teams built around them in the future. But right now, the same cannot be said.
The answer is, unfortunately, not as simple as signing a world-class midfielder. Even with Real Madrid's pull factor, there aren't many world-class midfielders who would leave their current clubs for Real.
Truthfully, Real Madrid is at a major disadvantage in this season's Champions League. And look, Real has surprised its fanbase on more than a handful of occasions. So, writing them off might seem harsh at this stage, but this Real Madrid team is a process, not the finished product it was when they last won the Big Ears.