Real Madrid will be flying back to Spain with a four-goal thumping in the beautiful landscape of Wattens, Austria. There are many takeaways from the friendly, and I think Madrid are finally headed in a better direction.
Xabi Alonso is a man of experimentation, and he applied that approach to a lost star. Facing WSG Tirol, the manager deployed David Alaba in the second half in a role he has never played at Real Madrid, that of a defensive midfielder
Alaba used to be an important player until a few seasons ago. Eventually, he faced a decline and ceased to be as influential, at least as a defender. But when one door closes, another opens, and this is exactly what happened with the Austrian.
Real Madrid have the perfect chance to redeem David Alaba
In the second half, Alaba came in for Aurelien Tchouameni, and while he did not immediately stand out, he looked fresher and at least somewhat promising.
The way he carried the ball, always ready to receive with his back to the opposition and turn to supply forward passes, was neat and unexpected from the veteran.
This was not because he has never played in midfield before, but because of his recent misfortune with injuries and low performances.
Of course, Tchouameni will remain the main defensive midfielder, but Alaba as a backup option to the Frenchman sounds like an offer there is no reason to turn down.
It is said that even in the previous warm-up game against Leganes, Xabi tested Alaba in this role.
Although the detailed results of that experiment are not known, it must have been promising enough for Xabi to give him another chance in the same position for a second game in a row.
At a time when Alaba’s defensive abilities are in question, the prospect of his redemption as a defensive midfielder looks promising.
Not to mention, both Alaba and Xabi have played together, and the player-turned-manager knows exactly what the veteran brings to the table.