The Club World Cup gives the new coach an initial opportunity to assess the challenges at a club that has become troubled and unstable.
Naturally, he has been involved in training. It would have been completely against his character for Xabi Alonso not to participate. Moving energetically in the sweltering heat, positioning players as he wants them, delivering precise passes in his signature Predator boots: this was Alonso in his purest form. As the new Real Madrid coach conducted his first sessions at Valdebebas this week, it felt almost like things were returning to their natural state.
Alonso, as a player, made a difference, focusing on details, a midfielder who cherished the ball and aimed to leave nothing to chance. These same characteristics define him as a coach. His sessions are high-energy, quick-paced, but almost invariably involve the ball. He frequently intervenes, continually correcting and encouraging, and if needed, he can always take a ball and demonstrate the concept himself. While Zinedine Zidane would sometimes join training if player numbers were low, with Alonso it seems he feels compelled to participate, as if playing and coaching are just two expressions of the same vision.
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- Source: SCCGManagement.com