Sometimes a single game can expose deeper problems within a team, and Real Madrid’s recent 4-0 loss to PSG in the Club World Cup semi-finals is one of those moments.
The Spanish giants were handed a harsh reminder of the challenges they face as they fell apart early and never recovered.
PSG’s Early Firepower Leaves Madrid Stunned
The match at MetLife Stadium saw PSG take complete control from the start.
Fabian Ruiz struck twice, sandwiching a goal from Ousmane Dembele, putting PSG 3-0 up inside just 24 minutes.
Despite Real Madrid fielding stars like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham, they couldn’t find any rhythm or fight back.
Late Goal Adds to Madrid’s Woes
Adding insult to injury, Goncalo Ramos came off the bench late in stoppage time to score PSG’s fourth goal.
It was a brutal finish to a game that highlighted Real Madrid’s struggles in both attack and defense.
Xabi Alonso Set to Address Squad Issues Head-On
After the heavy defeat, new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly preparing to have serious talks with key players, especially Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. The focus? A concern over their work rate and effort when not in possession of the ball.
Teamwork Concerns Echo Past Criticisms
This isn’t a new problem. Alonso’s predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, had also pointed out a lack of teamwork and unity in the squad before leaving.
Now, despite only managing six games so far, Alonso has identified the same issues and is determined to fix them—with full backing from the club’s leadership.
Spotlight on Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe’s Performances
Vinicius Jr.’s dip in form has been especially worrying, with some feeling the Brazilian is far from the Ballon d’Or contender he seemed to be just a year ago.
Meanwhile, Mbappe, who was recovering from an illness and only started in the tournament last night, is also under scrutiny, particularly for his defensive work rate.
Team Unity Criticized by Courtois After Another Defeat
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois didn’t hold back either.
After the Champions League quarter-final loss to Arsenal back in March, he had already pointed out issues with team unity—and after the PSG defeat, he repeated those frustrations.
“We want to apologise to the fans,” Courtois said.
“The problem was that we didn’t press as a team. Two big mistakes at the start set the tone.
We didn’t follow Xabi’s plan and were always late to every situation.”
What Lies Ahead for Real Madrid
With the Club World Cup final against Chelsea coming up for PSG, Real Madrid now face some serious soul-searching.
The spotlight is on Alonso to turn things around and get this star-studded squad pulling in the same direction once again.