Xabi Alonso 'Shocked' By Real Madrid Announcement, Reveals His Most Influential Coach

New coach balances nerves and composure in his first appearance before the Spanish media; Interest in Carreras, widely reported by the Spanish press, was not addressed.

Xabi Alonso's first press conference as Real Madrid manager revealed a coach already adept at navigating tricky questions, even seemingly simple ones.

Alonso addresses media for the first time

He drew laughs when asked when he learned he'd be succeeding Carlo Ancelotti. While the question aimed to uncover the negotiation timeline.

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Alonso opted for a humorous, gentlemanly deflection: "When? It takes me wanting to come and them wanting me. Since yesterday, I've considered myself Real Madrid's coach, even more so today. When did I find out? Yesterday, when the announcement dropped, it was a shock…"

Regarding potential transfer targets, Alonso skillfully sidestepped a direct question about Benfica's Álvaro Carreras, stating his intention to assess the current squad first. "Our duty is always to improve, and I'm eager to begin. I don't come with demands, but with a desire to work and constantly improve," he remarked.

Addressing this season's defensive vulnerabilities, he added, "I've analyzed the situation and am considering how to create a balanced team with control, while leveraging the players' individual qualities. We need to develop a collective spirit; this will provide stability and allow individual talents to flourish."

On what the team needs: "I've analyzed the club and players, using it to shape my vision for the project we've started. Teams depend on players, and these are high-caliber individuals with a strong competitive edge. The challenge is to build a team and maximize their potential, ensuring everyone works together. If we achieve that, we'll have a powerful… I won't say unstoppable, but very powerful force."

Alonso was also questioned about Huijsen's arrival and Modric's departure but didn't clarify his involvement in those decisions. "I can't be objective about Modric; we were teammates, we had chemistry. When I left, he was the maestro. Seeing his farewell makes us proud. I'll have the privilege of coaching him at the Club World Cup; I hope to live up to the task."

Discussing his influences – Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola – and succeeding Ancelotti, Alonso said, "It's a wonderful challenge; we can achieve things that make the fans proud. I'm probably here because of their collective influence. I was fortunate to have been close to them [as a player] and tried to understand their methods.

"My father was a coach, perhaps the biggest influence, but I learned from all of them, while forging my own path. I maintain contact and good relationships with them all."

Alonso explained his decision to take charge before the Club World Cup to advance processes and be able to compete for a title immediately.

On his vision for Real Madrid: "It's a good question because football demands flexibility. I have an idea, but the system can be dynamic. I want a connection with the fans, and we have the players to achieve that."

On Rodrygo's role, given the Brazilian's reduced playing time since Mbappé's arrival: "He's a Real Madrid player, and I'll speak to everyone; they deserve it. We need to get to know each other. He's spectacular, I'm not the one who will discover that, but we'll need him."

Alonso is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and was known for his passing. Alonso is also currently considered to be one of the best young managers in the world.