Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso did not make the decision not to use Rodrygo, in their second game at the club of Club not smoothed. With a lot of speculation around his future already, the decision only feeds speculation that he was on his way to the club this summer.
The 24-year-old was not for the last month of the domestic campaign of Real Madrid and with Alonso that use a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 form, the fear that Rodrygo has no natural place in the line-up. In his preferred role, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and Victor Munoz were all used for him against Pachuca. Yet Alonso stated that he still thought he was important.
“He looks good, enthusiastic. Recently a technical decision was. He remains important and we will need him in the club World Cup. He is a special player and he will play an important role.”
Asked whether with the arrival of Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo and Brahim, someone could be sold this summer.
“I am very happy with everyone, and I count on everyone. It is a very demanding season; we have 50 or 60 games. We need a team with a healthy competition. I am happy.”
Against Pachuca, Fede Valverde was played as the deep midfielder, and Alonso was asked if that was a symbolic for a more permanent shift.
“I have a number of ideas, but he is very versatile. He can play in many positions. He can play close to the wing, and in others. We have a lot of flexibility with him.”
In the meantime, Jude Bellingham has also played deeper than under Carlo Ancelotti.
“He will be the key. I love what he is doing in midfield, how he is involved in every game, and he has an enormous quality. We saw that against Pachuca. We try to stay close to him; he is very ambitious, a player who always wants to improve, continue to grow. We want to continue to grow and improve.”
Alonso was also questioned defensively in the working speed of Vinicius Junior, and whether it was something he had to improve.
“What I am clear about is that we all have to defend. All eleven on the field. We need to know how we want to insist. Without that it will be very difficult. Vini, Jude, Fede, Kylian, the defense … The more compact we are, the better we have to improve our distances. We have to improve our distances and we work on it.
There was also sufficient attention for the lack of time that Alonso had to prepare and how he tackled that problem.
“It is a very complex process. In different phases you have to know what to prioritize. It is not always possible to cover everything, but I try to keep the most important things in mind. In the beginning we will play it in a way, and later it becomes more liquid.”
“The most important thing is the construction. And I can see it. The players want to adapt to this new era, we are talking about things. And they are top class. It is easy with them; even on paper, they get it quickly. There is work to do every day, and it is important that the concepts linger in their blood.”