The Athletic FC Podcast Real Madrid have collapsed - can Alonso fix them?
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May 12, 2025 Dermot Corrigan, a La Liga correspondent, alongside Guillermo Rai, a dedicated Real Madrid writer, and Seb Stafford-Bloor, a Bundesliga correspondent, dissect the chaos enveloping Real Madrid after a recent crushing defeat. They explore the team's defensive woes, individual talents like Mbappe, and the stark contrast with Barcelona's cohesive performance. The trio debates whether Xabi Alonso can revitalize the squad, navigating his successful Leverkusen tenure and the immense pressures of managing a club with lofty expectations.
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Madrid's Structural Issues
- Real Madrid suffers because they lack a cohesive team structure despite strong individual talents like Mbappe.
- Barcelona's collective play outshines Madrid's individual brilliance, especially in defense where Madrid struggles.
Mbappe Alone Can't Fix Madrid
- Mbappe scores prolifically but cannot compensate for Real Madrid's overall attacking dysfunction.
- Madrid's lack of a team structure impacts other attackers' performances, unlike Barcelona's synergistic stars.
Barcelona's Youthful Revival
- Barcelona has revitalized its spirit and performance by relying on youth development and collective play.
- Their La Liga success contrasts sharply with Real Madrid's struggles despite Madrid's superior individual star power.