The FIFA Club World Cup marked the beginning of a new era at Real Madrid, as Xabi Alonso took over the reins as manager from Carlo Ancelotti.
The tournament, which saw the Merengues crash out at the semi-final stages against PSG, left many questions, such as the future of Rodrygo and Dani Ceballos, or how Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe will fit together in Alonso’s system.
But it also offered some clear answers, like new signing Dean Huijsen is going to play a critical role in the team.
Aurelien Tchouameni set for a key part in Alonso’s plans
Another important learning for Real Madrid from the Club World Cup was that Aurélien Tchouameni would play a key role in Xabi Alonso’s system, whether the team lines up with a back four or three central defenders.
As reported by MARCA, Alonso admires the Frenchman greatly and highly values the player’s tactical intelligence – beyond just his technical skills or physical strength.
Throughout the tournament, Tchouameni featured in both roles – as a deep-lying midfielder in a 4-3-3 and as a ball-playing sweeper flanked by Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger in a three-man defensive line.
The former AS Monaco was often seen becoming an extension of Alonso on the pitch. On several occasions, the new Real Madrid boss was seen addressing him directly to adjust tactical details mid-match.
Bouncing back strongly
Under Carlo Ancelotti, despite some scepticism, Tchouameni was also used in both roles -primarily as a pivot, but also as a centre-back, where he faced the most criticism.
The Frenchman came under intense scrutiny and criticism in the early parts of the last season, following a string of disappointing displays – so much so that fans had turned to booing and whistling him.
However, Tchouameni managed to turn things around over time and by the end of the season, he was one of Ancelotti’s most consistent performers. That trend continued under Alonso at the Club World Cup.
The midfielder has previously gone on record about how he does not enjoy playing at centre-back. However, during the recent tournament, he made it clear that he is fully on board with Alonso’s vision.