Real Madrid midfielder, Fede Valverde, said Xabi Alonso demands more positional control from the midfielders, unlike under the club’s immediate past manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
Fede Valverde stated this after Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup, in which he scored a goal.
Note that Ancelotti has been named the head coach of the Brazil National Team, and Alonso was lured from Bayer Leverkusen to succeed him at Real Madrid.
“Difference between Ancelotti and Xabi? Xabi asks us midfielders to have more control,” Valverde said via Madrid Zone. “He doesn’t want us to drop deep to receive the ball, he wants us between the lines, so that we can turn and drive forward.”
Meanwhile, Alonso, who left Bayer Leverkusen to take the reins at Madrid, heaped praise on Valverde, drawing a comparison with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, a former teammate of Alonso during their time at Anfield.
“Fede Valverde is a Steven Gerrard profile,” Alonso said in his post-match press conference. “Every coach wants a Fede Valverde in his team. He’s incredible.”
Valverde’s strong performance helped Real Madrid book a spot in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. Los Blancos will next face the Austrian side RB Salzburg in their final group game on Friday as they continue their quest for the global title.
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