Xabi Alonso’s post-match line ignites Real Madrid debate: fix the right flank, rethink Jude, free Mbappe

Xabi Alonso’s calm post-match remark that the team improved after the break set off a familiar storm around Real Madrid’s attacking balance. Supporters zeroed in on the right flank, arguing Rodrygo is not a natural right winger and calling for Kylian Mbappe to play as a central striker, with Rodrygo moved to the left. Some pushed to try Endrick on the right for energy and pressing. The use of Fran as a winger and Arda Guler as a central orchestrator also drew criticism, as did the reluctance to sub Jude Bellingham or deploy him as a true box-to-box midfielder.

Post-match, after a tense, high-intensity night, the coaching staff stressed second-half improvement and urged patience over a long season. The performance, however, reopened long-running debates about Real Madrid’s shape in the final third and role allocation among its biggest names. The right side again lacked natural width, while decisions to field Fran high and centralize Arda Guler surprised many. Rotations and substitutions in attacking midfield, particularly around Jude Bellingham’s minutes and position, became the focal point of discussion as supporters dissected the tactical plan and late-game choices.

🗣 Xabi Alonso: "We were better in the 2nd half. We lacked accuracy. But this is still long, we're still there."

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

The reaction centers on role clarity in a squad packed with left-leaning stars. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo are most comfortable attacking the left half-space, while Kylian Mbappe thrives when he starts left but darts into central channels. This creates congestion unless the right side provides width, depth, and pressing triggers. As seen again, Madrid’s right corridor lacked a true winger able to pin the full back, stretch the line, or supply repeatable cutbacks. That reduces crossing variety and compresses spaces for Jude Bellingham between the lines.

Moving Rodrygo to the left and starting Mbappe centrally would rebalance starting positions without undercutting their chemistry. Endrick at RW is a logical test case: he offers direct pressing, diagonal runs across the back line, and a willingness to attack the byline, which can open the half-space for Bellingham arriving late. If the staff prefers Arda Guler on the pitch, using him as a 10 for controlled phases makes sense, but not at the expense of right-flank width. Fran Garcia is a left back by trade; playing him as a winger limits natural combinations and tracking angles.

Structurally, a 4-3-3 with Valverde as the right-sided 8 and a natural RW restores balance. Alternatively, a 4-2-3-1 with Bellingham as an 8-10 hybrid alongside a stronger ball-winner keeps transitions cleaner. The throughline is simple: maximize Mbappe’s central gravity, give the right side a true wide outlet, and ask Jude to time late entries rather than stand as a second striker for long spells.

Reaction

Supporters split into clear camps, but all circled the same pressure point. One group argued bluntly that “Rodrygo is not a RW” and urged an immediate switch: Rodrygo left, Mbappe at striker, Endrick on the right because he “hustles.” Another recurring line was frustration with substitutions: “Are you allergic to subbing Bellingham off or playing him as a box-to-box?” Several insisted Madrid looked more cohesive in recent big European nights when Jude’s role was deeper and the front line had better spacing.

There was visible irritation with experiments that push square pegs into round holes. Fans questioned using Fran as a winger and giving Arda Guler an orchestrator brief in central zones while the right flank went unmanned. “He plays Fran as a winger, plays Arda as an orchestrator out of position and doesn’t drop Jude back,” one comment summed up. Others warned that late tweaks felt reactive rather than planned, noting how momentum swung when changes arrived too late.

A smaller group backed the staff’s calmer stance, pointing to a better second half and the long season ahead. But the prevailing mood demanded clearer role definitions and earlier subs when the first-half plan stalls. In short, energy for Endrick, width on the right, Jude deeper, and Mbappe unleashed down the middle are the consensus touchpoints emerging from the fanbase.

Social reactions

He can't he just can't stop being looking drunk

Janethoms (@janethomas44)

Mister, as much as I love you and the team. You barely THERE😭 we lacked this and that, it is ok if it was against bigger club. But, Girona is only 18th and the team was barely there, not solidly played. You got draw against them? You should apologize for this

C (@kireisyala)

So Madrid cannot win without a penalty?

Dzorgbe (@_Dzorgbe)

Prediction

Short term, expect the staff to test a cleaner 4-3-3 in a league fixture to restore rhythm without wholesale disruption. The most likely adjustment sees Mbappe starting centrally with Rodrygo flipping to the left for build-up familiarity, and Endrick or a true right-sided option tasked with pinning the line. This should improve rest-defense by keeping Valverde and the right back connected to a natural outlet rather than forcing diagonal carries in traffic.

Arda Guler’s usage will probably trend toward minutes as a 10 or right-sided playmaker in controlled stretches rather than as the primary orchestrator from kickoff. Jude Bellingham should see rotation in-game earlier, especially if his role becomes too vertical and the half-spaces clog. A 60-30 minute split across competitions would preserve his edge and allow tactical pivots sooner.

Medium term, Madrid may double down on training patterns that emphasize right-side overloads and switch-of-play timing. If Endrick’s pressing and diagonal runs translate, he can lock down the RW role in big matches, giving Mbappe a stable central platform and freeing Vinicius or Rodrygo to rotate left without crowding. The result would be more repeatable chance creation from weak-side cutbacks and fewer low-value crosses from deep.

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Conclusion

The message from the technical area was steady: improvement after the break, long season, stay the course. The message from the stands was sharper: rebalance the attack and decide on the right flank. Both can be true. Madrid have the talent stack to win while fixing details, but the details matter in knockout football. Without a natural right-sided threat, opponents will keep overloading Vini and clogging the middle where Jude likes to appear.

The cleanest pathway is pragmatic, not radical. Start Mbappe centrally to maximize gravity. Move Rodrygo to his happier left channels. Trial Endrick at RW to provide width, pressing, and depth, especially in matches where the first half is flat. Use Arda Guler as a situational 10, not the sole orchestrator from minute one. And give Bellingham box-to-box phases to arrive late rather than stand alongside the 9.

Do that, and the second-half spark that the coach referenced will arrive earlier. With clearer roles, the team’s talent should translate into cleaner chances and calmer control in big European nights, where small structural edges decide everything.