Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Al-Hilal in Xabi Alonso's first match as manager on Wednesday.
The game showed a lot of flaws in the team, which was to be expected. It has not been that long since Real Madrid got Alonso and these new players in, so the adaptation period will take time.
Real Madrid will play their next match against Pachuca on Sunday, hoping to get Alonso's first win as their manager.
Thibaut Courtois was one of the bright spots in the game, making several crucial saves to keep Real Madrid afloat.
However, his post-game quotes were something else entirely.
In typical Courtois fashion, he was brutally honest about the way they played, and he threw some jabs at former manager Carlo Ancelotti.
It did not seem like he wanted to diss Ancelotti or anything, but in a way, the Italian got caught in the crossfire.
Thibaut Courtois defends Xabi Alonso by throwing Carlo Ancelotti under the bus
When asked about their performance, Courtois said: "We still have Ancelotti’s automatisms and that cannot be changed in four days.
"After four years with Ancelotti, we learned some habits that are difficult to change in four days. Xabi wants different ways to defend and attack. We are watching videos and talking a lot. We will learn from this game."
While he is blunt and honest, it is also somewhat true. Things take time. Real Madrid are adopting a new style of football that will take time to be implemented.
I also don't think it was a diss to Ancelotti. I mean, it sounds like it, and maybe part of it was meant in that regard, but it is two different managers with two separate identities. It has less to do with Ancelotti's tactics being bad, and more with Ancelotti's tactics being different.
However, that is just my assumption. Maybe that is seriously how Courtois meant it, in which case I still wouldn't put it past him.
There may be things that players did not like while working under Ancelotti, and to change that, it will take time. Alonso's set up is very different to what Ancelotti tried to do, and it will take some getting used to.
It is a marathon, not a sprint, and Real Madrid know that very well.