When Xabi Alonso was first announced as the new Real Madrid manager, the first thing that was expected to change from the dying days of the Carlo Ancelotti regime was the system and tactics. Since his first match in charge, we can see Alonso slowly implementing his system with the team and as some may have expected, there have been ups and downs so far this season.
With Alonso's new system, there have been incredible performances like in El Clásico, but unfortunately, the bad performances outshine the good ones. An ugly 4-0 loss to PSG in the Club World Cup semifinals this summer, a horrendous 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid, and a frankly embarrassing 1-0 loss to Liverpool stick most in the minds of Real Madrid fans.
Although the scoreline was only 1-0, Tuesday's loss to Liverpool has been the most disheartening for fans. Aside from Thibaut Courtois, all Real Madrid players were no-shows at Anfield and lacked any fight to go and win the game.
Xabi Alonso fielded the same XI that put on a clinic against Barcelona, but against Liverpool, they looked like shells of themselves. Real Madrid could've easily won Tuesday's game, but one choice Xabi Alonso made sealed their fate against the Premier League champions.
Real Madrid were doomed from the start, and Xabi Alonso refused to fix it
Xabi Alonso's decision to use Eduardo Camavinga as a right-winger instead of in his usual midfield role hampered Real's attack before the opening whistle even blew. The attack lacked any threat and creativity and while it sounds harsh to single out Camavinga, given he's not a natural attacker the front line was doomed from the start.
Xabi Alonso has a number of solid attacking options at his disposal on the bench with the likes of Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim Diaz, and Gonzalo Garcia, but he still chose to start Camavinga in attack.
While the Frenchman has shown he can adapt and play almost any position on the pitch, in a game the magnitude of a Champions League clash against Liverpool, Xabi Alonso should've gone with a different game plan in attack.
Real Madrid fans have become accustomed to Xabi Alonso not choosing players like Rodrygo and Endrick, but if he hopes to achieve success with Real in his first season at the club, he needs to drop some of his stubbornness and give a fair shot in attack the the other players in his squad.