Real Madrid’s PSG thrashing shows Xabi Alonso true size of rebuilding job

The final whistle at MetLife Stadium brought merciful relief for Real Madrid. For Xabi Alonso, however, it merely signaled the end of a dismal 2024-2025 campaign and the stark beginning of an immense challenge. Watching his fledgling team be systematically dismantled by Paris Saint-Germain, the new manager articulated a desire to "reset," to internalize the hurt as a lesson rather than a burden. “I want this to have an impact but not drag us down,” Alonso stated, his gaze already fixed on August and a "different" 2025-26 season. Yet, the manner of their collapse against PSG was chillingly familiar, a stark reminder of a fragility that has plagued the Santiago Bernabéu for far too long.

Indeed, the 4-0 capitulation to PSG was less an anomaly and more a grim capstone on a season defined by capitulation against top-tier opposition. This was Real Madrid’s 15th loss in a grueling 68-game schedule, a statistical indictment that speaks volumes. While minor silverware like the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup against Pachuca offered fleeting consolation, the true measure of their decline was evident in their struggles against genuine contenders. Barcelona twice humiliated them in La Liga, scoring four goals in each encounter. The Blaugrana also eliminated them from the Copa del Rey with three goals and inflicted a staggering five-goal defeat in the Spanish Super Cup. Even Arsenal had little trouble putting three past them in the Champions League. PSG, it seemed, merely stopped at four because their dominance was so complete, further highlighting Real’s susceptibility.

The immediate, pressing question for Alonso extends beyond merely recovering from a bruising season; it revolves around the integration of superstar striker Kylian Mbappé. The forward’s arrival, once heralded as the final piece of the puzzle, now presents a complex tactical conundrum for a team that has demonstrably lacked defensive solidity and a coherent identity. How does a manager build a robust defensive structure and midfield cohesion around a player who thrives on attacking freedom, especially when the team has been repeatedly exposed? Alonso’s task is not simply to find the "right fit" for Mbappé, but to fundamentally reshape the entire squad, instilling a new tactical discipline, defensive resilience, and a winning mentality that can withstand the relentless pressure of elite European football. The MetLife humbling was a potent, painful demonstration of just how vast that rebuilding job truly is.

Real Madrid Xabi Alonso Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid rebuilding PSG thrashing 2024-2025 Real Madrid season Real Madrid tactical challenges Alonso transfer strategy La Liga performance Champions League struggles Football analysis