New Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso says his team will “start from scratch” as preparations begin for the 2025/26 season, following a humbling 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final.
Appointed in late May after a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso was thrust into competitive action before overseeing a full pre-season with the Spanish giants. The defeat to PSG at the MetLife Stadium served as an early reality check for the former Madrid midfielder.
“PSG are a team who have been built over time, whereas we are practically just beginning,” Alonso said after Real fell two goals behind inside nine minutes. “We have lots of room for improvement. There are many things that we want to do better.”
Real Madrid conceded three goals in the first half, with PSG adding a late fourth to book their place in Sunday’s final against Chelsea.
“We have to be self-critical. This will tell us things for the future that will help us to compete at a much better level than we did today,” Alonso added.
Real endured a trophyless campaign last season, finishing second to Barcelona in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals against Arsenal. Alonso, a former midfield stalwart for Madrid, had hoped for more time to prepare his squad before entering major competition.
“They are at a very high level and have been since the start of the knockout phase of the Champions League,” he said of PSG. “They have shown it again here and we have to accept it — we are just beginning, learning things about where we want to go and how we are going to get there.”
Despite the disappointing result, there were some positives for Madrid. New arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen featured for the first time, while 19-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia impressed with four goals in five matches. The group stage also saw Real held by Al Hilal before edging out Juventus and Borussia Dortmund en route to the semi-finals.
Alonso showcased tactical variety throughout the tournament, alternating between a back-four and a three-man central defence.
The clash with PSG also marked the end of an era, as veteran midfielder Luka Modric made his final appearance for the club at age 39. The Croatian is now expected to join AC Milan after a glittering 13-year career with Madrid.
“This game is the last match of this season, not the start of the next one,” Alonso emphasized. “We will take positives away from this. We come away from here a better team and I am convinced this will help us start next season better.”
Real’s new campaign begins swiftly, with their La Liga opener scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, at home against Osasuna. Attempts to postpone the fixture have so far failed, leaving less than six weeks for the squad to rest and prepare.
Madrid are also set to welcome highly-rated Argentine prospect Franco Mastantuono, 17, from River Plate, following a €63 million transfer agreement.
“In August the 2025/26 season begins,” Alonso said. “Things are going to be different. We are starting from scratch.”
