Real Madrid have had a good time with current coach Carlo Ancelotti in his second tenure in charge of the club. But, there have been road signs of improvement.
Real Madrid have struggled a lot in two of the four seasons through Ancelotti's tenure so far. In his second season, the club only won the Copa del Rey, and even though they are still in the running to win all major competitions this season, the season they have had so far has been underwhelming.
That is because the standards are so high, and the players have not performed as well as they need to. Ancelotti himself has made a bunch of tactical mistakes and has seen the team not feel the hunger and energy that it used to a year or so ago.
According to The Athletic, Real Madrid have held talks with Xabi Alonso, and the real reason why is something that Ancelotti has struggled with this season.
According to the report, Alonso - who won Bayer Leverkusen their first and second titles in the club's history last season, including the Bundesliga - has a more dynamic and modern style. The young manager has a different approach and he could 'renew' the energy of the players next season, should he be the coach.
That has been one talking point in Ancelotti's season so far. He has, at times, struggled to bring out the best and most energized version of his squad, and fans have critiqued him for not achieving what he is fully capable of achieving with a squad like this.
Alonso's Leverkusen, on the other hand, has still been good this season, the Spaniard's record as a manager will only improve once he has the players that Real Madrid so proudly like to boast about.
Alonso's pressing schemes, combined with his ability to get the best out of each player, can help Real Madrid a lot going forward, and as a legend of the club, he will command the respect of the locker room too.
Sooner or later, the move will happen, but Real Madrid are seeing more and more signs of why Alonso should be a Real Madrid coach sooner rather than later.