Alonso announces Real 'restart from zero' after PSG defeat
10 Jul 2025 09:00pm
Real Madrid's Spanish coach Xabi Alonso hugs Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modric after losing the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal football match between France's Paris Saint-Germain and Spain's Real Madrid at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 9, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
EAST RUTHERFORD - New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has insisted that his real work at the club only starts now, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Speaking after a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals, Alonso announced "a restart from zero." Federico Valverde #8 of Real Madrid C. F. is challenged by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia #7 of Paris Saint-Germain during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Winner Game 59 and Winner Game 60 at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey./AFP (Photo by ALEX GRIMM / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Alonso took over from Carlo Ancelotti just before the tournament in the United States with no time to implement his ideas.
"We are in a competitive environment here, without proper training," Alonso said.
"It's the end of this season and not the start of the next. We'll take the positives from this Club World Cup period. We're leaving as a better team. It's a starting point for a better start next season."
Alonso arrived from Bayer Leverkusen at the record Champions League winners he played for in the past.
Wednesday's defeat was his first since in charge, and it was a painful one as PSG were 2-0 up after nine minutes due to defensive mistakes, and led 3-0 15 minutes later.
Alonso named the defeat "painful" as PSG's collective, coached by Luis Enrique, destroyed Real almost in the same way as they did in their 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in the May 31 Champions League final.
While PSG now aim for the quadruple on Sunday against Chelsea, having also won the French league and cup, Alonso must form a team from such skilled individuals, including ex-PSG star Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, after a season without silverware.
"This tournament has taught me many things about what we are and what we have to improve," he said. "We want to build a team that plays as a unit and where everyone is involved.'
Success won't come instantly from next season onwards, Alonso warned, saying: "It's the first defeat, but it won't be the last. Anyone who thinks they'll never lose is deluding themselves.
"It's what we have to do, and tomorrow we start a period of rest and recharging our brains. We can't forget today's game, but we can't let this game drag us down either.'
The restart could also include reinforcements. "We haven't talked about it during the Club World Cup, but from now on we're open to making improvements. We are always looking to improve, and there's room for improvement,' Alonso said. - BERNAMA-dpa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
30 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Chelsea's Fernandez urges kick-off change, warns of ‘very dangerous' heat ahead of Club World Cup final
EAST RUTHERFORD (New Jersey), July 12 — Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez warned yesterday that playing games at the hottest time of the day during the Club World Cup is 'very dangerous' as his side prepare to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday afternoon. 'The heat is incredible. The other day I was feeling a bit dizzy and I had to sit down on the ground,' Argentinian playmaker Fernandez told reporters on yesterday. Sunday's Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York between Chelsea and PSG will kick off at 3:00 pm local time (1900 GMT). Temperatures then are forecast to be as high as 31 degrees Celsius. Chelsea kicked off at the same time in their 2-0 semi-final win over Brazilian side Fluminense on Tuesday, and the heat has had an impact on numerous games throughout the competition. That has led to concerns about scheduling during the World Cup set to take place across North America next year. 'Playing in these temperatures is very dangerous,' said Fernandez, who was speaking before Chelsea trained at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, home of MLS side New York Red Bulls. 'Obviously for the spectacle, for people who come to the stadium to enjoy it, and for those watching at home, the pace of play is not the same, it slows everything down. 'Let's hope they change the kick-off times to make it a better spectacle,' Fernandez, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, added with an eye on the 2026 tournament. — AFP
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Nothing to lose': Chelsea aim to defy odds and deny PSG clean sweep in Club World Cup decider
EAST RUTHERFORD (New Jersey), July 12 — Chelsea must somehow try to stop an irresistible Paris Saint-Germain side from adding the Club World Cup trophy to their UEFA Champions League title as the final of the first edition of FIFA's expanded competition takes place on Sunday. PSG travelled to the United States fresh from becoming European champions with a stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich in late May, and they have lived up to their favourites tag at the Club World Cup. Luis Enrique's side put four goals past Atletico Madrid in the group stage, four more past Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the last 16, and then proved too strong for Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. They appeared to hit new heights as they tore apart Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid in the last four, when their 4-0 winning margin could have been far greater. The Parisians now stand on the verge of an extraordinary achievement, as they look to complete a clean sweep of trophies in this marathon 2024/25 season and add the world title to their French and European crowns. 'That is the objective we have had since the beginning but it is always very difficult to achieve these things — very few teams can do what we are trying to do,' said Luis Enrique after the semi-final. PSG are therefore overwhelming favourites for the game which will be played at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop — and which is set to be attended by Donald Trump. However Desire Doue, one of their standout performers during a remarkable campaign, insisted there were no concerns about complacency. 'We are not over-confident, not at all,' France international Doue told reporters before PSG trained at Rutgers University, south of New York City, yesterday. 'We have been favourites for most matches in this competition and throughout this season, but what matters is what we do on the pitch.' Chelsea have plenty of reason to believe too, with Sunday's game finally wrapping up a campaign in which they won the UEFA Conference League and also finished fourth in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League. While PSG lost to Botafogo during the group stage, Chelsea were also beaten by Brazilian opposition in Flamengo. However, they have gone on to defeat Benfica as well as two other Brazilian teams, Palmeiras and Fluminense, to reach the final. Paris St Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma (left) during training for Club World Cup final with Chelsea. — Reuters pic Massive prize money 'If everyone thinks we are going to lose, then we have nothing to lose. We have to go out there and play our football, be confident and hopefully try to surprise everyone,' defender Levi Colwill said yesterday. PSG's record against English opposition in 2025 shows the size of task facing Chelsea — the French club faced four Premier League teams in the Champions League and beat them all, from Manchester City and Liverpool, to Aston Villa and then Arsenal. 'It is a super high-level game. They are one of the hottest teams in the world at the moment but this is the final, a one-off game,' said Reece James. 'Everyone has them down as strong favourites but I have been in many finals before where we have been favourites and we have not come out on top. 'I don't really care that everyone is bigging up the opposition. We are just preparing in the right way and we are going out to win.' The match brings down the curtain on a month-long competition that FIFA is already hailing as a huge success. But concerns over the heat of an American summer have plagued the tournament, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez saying yesterday that playing in the middle of the afternoon was 'very dangerous' — Sunday's game will kick off at 3:00 pm local time (1900 GMT). Whatever happens in the final, the tournament has already been a huge success for the participants from a financial viewpoint. Chelsea and PSG are assured to go home with over US$100 million in prize money, with the definitive amount to become clear after the final — that money will be particularly welcome for Chelsea after they were recently fined by UEFA for breaching financial rules. — AFP
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Newcastle splash £52m on Forest winger Anthony Elanga ahead of Champions League return
NEWCASTLE, July 12 — Newcastle yesterday announced the signing of Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga for a reported fee of £52 million (RM297 million). The 23-year-old Sweden international has signed a long-term deal with Eddie Howe's team, who are preparing to return to the Champions League after a fifth-placed finish last season. The fee is worth up to £55 million including £3 million in performance-related add-ons, reports said. 'I'm delighted to welcome Anthony to Newcastle,' said Howe. 'He has been a key target for us so I'm delighted to secure him at this early part of pre-season. 'He is an exciting talent with attributes that make him a unique attacking threat. His pace, energy and ability to create and score goals will strengthen us and complement the way we want to play.' Elanga, who began his professional career at Manchester United, was one of the stars of Forest's surprise seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists. Forest paid just £15 million to sign him from United in 2023. 'I'm excited, I'm really happy but most importantly I'm ready,' he said. 'I'm ready to put on this black-and-white top to really fight for this team and give everything for the passionate fanbase that lives and breathes football. 'I had an amazing two years at Nottingham Forest, they really helped me to become the player I am today, but I'm really happy to be here now.' Newcastle have been frustrated in their attempts to strengthen their squad in preparation for a return to the Champions League. Despite being backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the League Cup winners have been limited in what they can spend in recent seasons by financial sustainability rules. — AFP
