The Madrid That Awaits

As Madrid builds itself in the World Cup, it is worth pausing to start reading about the team that is coming. A new Madrid is forming amidst the certainties that are arriving, the uncertainties that persist, and the improvements that must come with Xabi.

A player has arrived who, from day one, seemed to ask us: who said it’s hard to be a center-back for Madrid? Indeed, everything seems easy for Huijsen. A calm player (elegance never rushes) who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and exudes an air of dominance in any action. He defends with the coolness of someone who understands what will happen before it occurs and attacks by filtering balls that make life easier for the midfielders. Standing at 1.96 meters, he embodies the prototype of the modern center-back. His height does not hinder his coordination and gives him an advantage in aerial play in both boxes. However, he still needs to gain strength to assert himself in duels against the latest generation of forwards, quick as lizards and tough as trees. For now, he compensates with wisdom.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is searching for his place on the wing. He still hasn’t quite found it, despite his talent and experience. It’s as if halfway through a match, he needs to glance at the color of his shirt to remember who his teammates are. Coming from a great club, he has entered a different realm and will take time to adapt. His strengths and weaknesses are well known, and Xabi will find a way to highlight the former, disguise the latter, and transform him into a valuable asset for the team’s attacking style.

Silently, a forward is growing in the U.S. who is ready to be part of the project, which is saying a lot. Gonzalo carries the pride of the youth academy, possesses physical presence, associates naturally, and was born to score. He will be helpful.

But there is also room for improvement among those we know well.

In Vinicius’s mind coexist a star and a rebel. The star is easy to define: a player who turns every ball into a threat. As for the rebel, it refers to someone who defies authority. He excels at both; it’s impossible to play better or to be more emotionally exposed. He transitioned from promise to indispensable player thanks to intelligence, humility, persistence… All virtues that help correct the irritation that pulls him out of matches. Why is he attacked so much? Because they fear him. The way to respond is through play and goals—the weapons of stars. If he clears his demons, Madrid will multiply its threat level.

Bellingham also has room for improvement; he dazzled in his first act and bewildered us in the second. Injuries, a new share of prominence with Mbappé’s arrival, and the loss of the excitement that characterizes every newcomer… All weighed heavily. But the great player is there, and his recovery will give the team a boost of energy and quality in the most strategic area of the field.

Mbappé has the least to worry about. First, because he has the grace of being born with everything in place, and second, because winning the Golden Boot in a poor year for the team allows him to say: “It wasn’t me.” He is a guarantee of excellence.

It’s time to sharpen focus and make the ball move faster, to compact without it, to repeat concepts in every training session like poetry in school, and to spread the competitive fire. These are Xabi’s challenges, who still sleeps with one eye open to find solutions.