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5 hours ago
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Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois offered a realistic assessment of Xabi Alonso's first game in charge of Los Blancos.
The Spanish coach has returned to his former club this summer after the decision to remove Carlo Ancelotti on the back of failing to defend his La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles in 2025.
Ancelotti has taken up a new challenge with the Brazil national team as Alonso looks to breath new life in his new squad.
Summer signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold both made their club debuts as Alonso's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Hilal in their FIFA Club World Cup opener.
Gonzalo Garcia superbly fired Real Madrid into a first-half lead before Ruben Neves equalised from the penalty spot.
Stand-in Real Madrid captain Fede Valverde was denied from the spot, as the Uruguayan was kept out by former Sevilla star Yassine Bounou, and Alonso had to settle for a draw in Miami.
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The former midfielder will not be panicked by the overall performance of his team but Courtois admitted the old habits of the Ancelotti regime will take to remove.
"We're still playing Ancelotti-type football. That can't change in only four days," as per Mundo Deportivo.
"Xabi wants us to attack in different ways and defend in different ways. We are watching videos and talking a lot. We will learn from this game."
"We played too slowly in the first half. We struggled to find the rhythm of the game. The penalty [we conceded] was a bit silly. After that, we played faster and were more agile. If we keep our form in the second half, it should help us going forward."
Next up for Alonso's side is a Group H clash with Mexican side Pachuca in North Carolina on June 22 before a final group game against RB Salzburg on June 27 in Philadelphia.
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