Xabi Alonso Blames Three Players for Madrid’s defeat to Atlético

Xabi Alonso acknowledges his mistake in the way he set up his team against Atlético Madrid. His approach did not suit the lineup he selected, and it became clear that Jude Bellingham, the big surprise inclusion, was not ready to start after a long absence. Nevertheless, the Real Madrid coach also apologizes, as some star players did not perform at the level expected of them.

The first, and most obvious, was Álvaro Carreras, a personal request from the Basque coach to the club’s management. He was convinced that Carreras could take over the left-back position at the Santiago Bernabéu for years to come, following in the footsteps of Roberto Carlos and Marcelo Vieira.

Florentino Pérez had to pay €50 million to sign him from Benfica, a hefty investment, though one that initially seemed worthwhile. His first weeks were highly positive, earning him widespread praise. However, his performance at the Metropolitano was disastrous. From the very first minute, he looked hesitant and nervous due to the hostile atmosphere and the relentless pressure from Giuliano Simeone.

In the end, he was among the few singled out for the defeat. Alonso hopes this was just an off day and not the start of a negative trend.

The same applies to Dean Huijsen, who was also very inaccurate and committed several fatal mistakes that led to goals conceded. He failed to show the security and strength expected of him, nor was he precise when handling the ball in defensive build-up play—supposedly one of his greatest strengths.

Still in his early twenties, Huijsen has already been compared to Sergio Ramos and was asked to lead the defensive line. But his display against Atlético raises doubts, especially with Antonio Rüdiger returning to action.

The last player who remained in Madrid but whose disastrous performance against Atlético was especially evident is Aurélien Tchouaméni. He had left a good impression earlier, but he could not maintain it, and once again delivered one of his worst performances—the kind seen at the beginning of last season.

Source: El Naciona