Xabi Alonso criticized three players, including Arda Güler, for his ineffective performance in the Real Madrid-PSG semifinal and demanded President Pérez to impose severe sanctions. However, Real Madrid’s president’s response surprised everyone.
After the dramatic events that followed the overwhelming defeat of Real Madrid 4-0 against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup on July 10, 2025, coach Xabi Alonso publicly criticized three players, including the acclaimed Turkish star Arda Güler, for his bad performances. Visibly frustrated after the match, the Spanish coach demanded that the president of the club, Florentino Pérez, imposed severe disciplinary sanctions on all three. However, Pérez’s reaction surprised fans, players and analysts, unleashing an intense debate about the future of the club.
The PSG match at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey was the first step of Real Madrid to face reality. Under the direction of Luis Enrique, the PSG offered a masterful lesson, taking advantage of defensive errors and surpassing a disorganized template of Madrid. The goals of Fabián Ruiz (who scored two goals), Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos sealed a shameful elimination for the Spanish giant, which housed great hopes of winning the Club World Cup. The defeat presented the flagrant weaknesses of the Alonso team, and the coach cited the lack of intensity, poor decision -making and defensive weaknesses as the main reasons for collapse.
Alonso, who assumed the position of Real Madrid coach this summer, was blunt in his analysis after the party. Various sources have indicated Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Arda Güler as the main responsible for the low performance of the team. Asensio, who has had difficulty recovering his form, was criticized for a crucial error that led to PSG’s first goal. Vinicius, usually a dynamic player, was described as someone who “walked the game” and failed to break the defense, leaving the right wing vulnerable to the incessant PSG attacks, especially Khvicha Kvarathskhelia. Despite his recent ascent as a key piece in the Alonso system, Güler has been criticized for his inability to influence the game in his new role as midfielder, citing the lack of coach’s defensive anticipation and his inability to connect effects effectively.
In a heated exchange with the club’s board, Alonso urged Pérez to take decisive measures, suggesting large fines or even leaving some players in the bank to send a message to the team. The eccentrocampist, known for his tactical intelligence and his serenity, seemed to lose his usual composure and emphasized that such performances were unacceptable for a club like Real Madrid. “Today we were below our level,” Alonso said at a press conference, admitting that his tactical adjustments had failed. The beginning of the game made the difference. The PSG was at a level that we could not match, and some players were not up to expectations.
However, the attention quickly focused on Pérez’s reaction, which caused shock among the Madrid fans. Instead of supporting Alonso’s penalty request, the president, as reported, rejected the idea completely, adopting a more mesurated position. Sources close to the club indicate that Pérez, aware of the delicate balance and morals that must be maintained in the squad, emphasized the importance of learning from defeat instead of resorting to punitive measures. “This is a new era for Real Madrid,” Pérez told Alonso. “We are not destroying, we are building. These players are our future and we must support them to develop.” While some interpreted the decision to protect the players, especially the young Güler, as a sign of trust in the potential of the template, others saw it as a refusal to address deeper problems within the team.
The lack of disciplinary measures against players has generated reactions found. Some fans and commentators argue that Pérez’s position reflects his long -term vision for a transition team, especially with regard to young talents such as Güler, who shows a great promise despite his difficulties against the PSG. With only 20 years, Güler has been a revolutionary under the command of Alonso, highlighting as a central and receiving praise for his vision and creativity in previous matches. However, their defensive deficiencies and inexperience were exposed against a well -prepared PSG, which generated doubts about their preparation for these high -risk encounters. Vinicius, pillar of the team, has also been criticized for its irregularity this season, while Asensio’s constant difficulties have generated speculation about their future in the club.
Critics of Pérez’s decision argue that Indulgence could undermine Alonso’s authority in his attempt to forge a new identity for Real Madrid. The former Bayer Leverkusen coach has received the task of modernizing a team often accused of reluctance and an excessive dependence on individual brilliance under the direction of Carlo Ancelotti. Alonso’s emphasis on collective game and defensive discipline had given promising results in previous matches, with Guler and Jude Bellingham forming a dynamic pair in the midfield. But the defeat against the PSG showed the gap that separates Madrid from the European elite, and the cohesion of the PSG under the direction of Enrique became an indicator of what Alonso hopes to achieve.
The consequences of the party have also intensified criticism against Alonso himself. While his decision to point to players has been praised for his honesty, some wonder if he publicly criticize young stars like Guler could undermine his self -esteem. Others believe that the demand for a penalty reflects the determination to instill a winning mentality, even if that implies making difficult decisions. Meanwhile, Pérez’s refusal to support Alonso’s disciplinary measure is a situation that some believe that he could generate tensions between the coach and the directive.
While Real Madrid prepares for the 2025-26 season, the attention will focus on how Alonso and Pérez face this setback. The president’s decision to protect the players demonstrates their confidence in their recovery capacity, but also presses Alonso to obtain results without the authority to impose a strict discipline. For Güler, Vinicius and Asensio, defeat against PSG is a painful lesson, but that could determine its development in the new era of the club. With Alonso promising a “new start” next season, all eyes will be put in itself this talented squad can overcome this challenge and reaffirm Real Madrid’s domain worldwide.
