Everything seemed perfect for Xabi Alonso. After promising success in Leverkusen, the Basque technician arrives in Madrid to take over from Carlo Ancelotti, called to direct the Brazilian selection. But even before having officially walked the Bernabéu lawn as a main coach, Alonso has already received a real cold shower from a former legendary Merengue coach. A surprising message, which looks more like a warning than a warm welcome.
The author of this scathing outing is none other than Fabio Capello, the former Italian coach who led Real Madrid twice as a champion of Spain, ten years apart. Asked about the arrival of Xabi Alonso, the latter did not chew his words on El Partidazo de Cope:
“Alonso has accomplished beautiful things in Leverkusen, but to train Real Madrid is totally different. He will quickly understand what the pressure really means here. »» A direct, brutal, almost threatening warning for the attention of the new strong man of the Madrid bench.
Capello in Alonso: “Welcome to hell, Real does not forgive anything!
For Capello, Real Madrid is a separate club, where each error is paid at a high price. The former coach insists that managing a team like Real is a mission in its own right, more intense, more complex and more risky than anywhere else. According to him, Alonso will have to adapt quickly to this environment where each gesture is scrutinized with a magnifying glass and each result heavy with consequences.
Glacial welcome for Xabi Alonso at Real
Capello has not forgotten to recall the inheritance left by Ancelotti, the predecessor of Alonso: “Carlo succeeded thanks to his intelligence, his management of the locker room and his charisma. He had a solid team, but you had to know how to manage it. »» An additional weight on the Basque shoulders, which will have to be up to a coach who entered the history of the club through the big door.
With such a spicy introduction, Xabi Alonso now knows what to expect. Capello warned it: Real Madrid pressure is incomparable. It is now up to Alonso to prove that he is up to this monumental challenge. The future will quickly say if Capello's message was a precious warning or a fatal prediction.
