Legendary former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti made a shocking statement following the disappointing result against Al Hilal in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Ancelotti claimed that current manager Xabi Alonso’s tactics were ineffective and that there was a serious problem within the team. While these words caused a stir in the football world, Xabi Alonso’s harsh response raised the temperature to a fever pitch. The internal dynamics of Real Madrid have once again been called into question by this debate.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is a prestigious tournament held in the United States from June 15 to July 14, with 32 clubs participating. Real Madrid began the tournament aiming to win the championship, but their performance against Al Hilal surprised fans and experts. After the match, Carlo Ancelotti openly criticized Xabi Alonso’s tactical decisions. Ancelotti stated, “Alonso’s tactics are ineffective; there is a serious problem,” and argued that the team’s poor performance was due to poor strategic decisions. This statement was a bombshell for the Real Madrid community.
Xabi Alonso, known as Noah’s Ark and current Real Madrid coach, didn’t remain indifferent to Ancelotti’s criticism. Alonso responded with just nine words: “Ancelotti’s criticism is misplaced, our tactics work, the problem is the players.” This brief but harsh response sparked a huge debate both inside and outside the club. Alonso’s words further fueled tension between him and Ancelotti, and the conflict between the two coaches also created divisions among the fans.
Real Madrid fans have heatedly debated the tension on social media and fan forums. Some believe Ancelotti could be right, based on their experience, while others support Alonso’s modern vision of football. Ancelotti’s criticism has focused on the poor performance of some of the team’s key players, while Alonso’s accusations against the players have further complicated the atmosphere in the locker room. According to club leaks, there were tense moments in the locker room after the match, with some players reportedly uncomfortable with Alonso’s strategy.
Florentino Pérez’s role in this crisis as Real Madrid president remains to be seen. Pérez is known to maintain close ties with Ancelotti and Alonso, and it remains to be seen whether he will adopt a neutral stance in this tension. Pérez has acted swiftly and decisively in similar situations in the past, but this time the conflict between the two legends could complicate decision-making.
This tension could affect Real Madrid’s performance in the tournament and the team’s future. Real Madrid’s next match will be a major test, as Alonso’s tactical vision comes up against Ancelotti’s experience. The football world is eagerly awaiting how this crisis is resolved and how Real Madrid will perform in the tournament. This verbal duel between Ancelotti and Alonso will likely be talked about for a long time in the halls of the Santiago Bernabéu.
