"And it will be even better": Xabi Alonso, the keys to the revolution that will restore Madrid to greatness.

Real Madrid are on a roll. The 2-1 victory in their Champions League debut is the best possible news for the team, which, despite having undergone numerous changes in a short period of time, is responding wonderfully . So far, they have won five of their five competitive matches, and the feeling is getting better and better for a team that is already showing what it is capable of.

This summer was shaping up to be a big one for Madrid. A change of coach, with the arrival of Xabi Alonso, replacing the most successful coach in the club's history , Carlo Ancelotti. And with it, many changes: in playing style, in automatic mechanisms, in players, in intensity, in the concept of play ... With little time to assimilate all the new situations, the team left the Club World Cup through the back door , leaving some doubts.

But soon, Xabi Alonso sent signals to the doubters to join him . That tournament, with no room for maneuver, was almost a continuation of the previous era, and now, after a month of work, training, and matches, the team is beginning to show improvement. They've won everything, they score goals, they've shown a certain defensive solvency, and they also know how to suffer. Not surprisingly, the last two victories came playing with ten players .

It's only the beginning of the Xabi Alonso era, but we're starting to see clear signs of what the Tolosarra native wants on the pitch . We're seeing a committed squad, full of enthusiasm, eagerness, and a passion for controlling the ball. But we're also seeing a fighting side, one that knows how to suffer when necessary, come from behind when necessary, and that's starting to show the slightest signs of a team of experts . This Real Madrid is starting to really take off.

"We're growing, progressing, at an important moment, seeing that we can compete by doing things well . I really enjoyed the first half hour. We'll learn from the negatives to continue in the good phases. This Tuesday was demanding against a Marseille team with good players and a system that demands a lot from you. We were quite effective in pressing, but in four months it will be even better ," explained the Tolosarra native in a press conference.

Powerful high blood pressure

Madrid no longer waits, they nap and float their opponents. Now, Kylian Mbappé is the first defender , and from the moment the opposing team puts the ball in play, he presses like a beast, at which point the rest of the team joins him to minimize space and bite in unison . This means Madrid recovers many more balls, higher up the field, and with greater speed, allowing them to exploit errors more easily. Just this Tuesday, the Frenchman nearly stole two goal-line saves from Rulli , demonstrating how the team is pushing. There's a commitment to recovery that hasn't been seen for a long time, with Huijsen and Militao deep in the opposition's half.

A lot of speed with the ball

As a result of the team's new positioning on the pitch, Madrid is much closer to attacking positions when they initiate the play, but this situation has a catch : space is reduced, where the accumulation of own and opposing players minimizes the free zones of the field . This means that Madrid has to have extra speed with the ball, moving it very quickly and accurately to surprise . And, of course, we are seeing quick combinations with which numerous scoring chances are generated. Perhaps the team's main problem is adjusting its aim, since it generates but, often, does not finish as it should .

One of the elements that is setting Xabi Alonso apart is his enormous confidence in the team's latest signings . Logic would have it that names like Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras were arriving to be undisputed starters , and the predictions have not been wrong. Trent arrived to share minutes with Carvajal , as is also the case. But the big—and pleasant—surprise is Franco Mastantuono . The Argentine has landed on his feet at the Bernabéu and, for now, the only thing he's missing is a goal. He combines, has vision, a lot of quality, and is intense in defense . And Xabi Alonso knows he has a gem on his hands, a difference-maker.

Mbappé is in stellar form

The French striker has become Madrid's big star . Mbappé has taken a step forward and is assuming the team's attacking responsibilities: in his first five games, he has scored six goals and provided one assist . Every time the ball passes through his feet, the feeling that something is going to happen is evident. He has scored 60% of the team's goals and is very focused and involved . Mbappé is beginning to show his best form and is the main reason Madrid is dreaming of great success. It has been a long time since there was a player who made such a difference on the pitch.

Tchouameni, a capital piece

The central midfielder has undergone a dramatic transformation in a matter of months . Tchouameni has gone from being a controversial, singled-out, and criticized player to a key player in Xabi Alonso's system . With such high pressure and the center-backs defending in the open , the Frenchman's contribution is decisive, helping to fill in the small marking gaps that can occur and correcting his teammates whenever needed. Tchouameni goes unnoticed for many stages of matches, but when it's his turn to intervene, he's more focused than ever. This is demonstrated by the fact that he hasn't rested a minute under Xabi Alonso.