‘Accept their flaws!’ - Xabi Alonso warned by ex-Spain boss he could 'mess things up' with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr if Real Madrid coach demands star forwards defend

As Alonso prepares for a new era with both Mbappe and Vinicius in his squad, concerns have emerged over whether the two left-sided attackers can coexist effectively on the pitch. Their overlapping styles and lack of defensive work rate could pose problems.

The French striker's arrival sparked excitement but also tactical puzzles for the Spanish giants throughout his debut season under Carlo Ancelotti. With Vinicius already thriving on the left, questions have surfaced over positional adjustments and team balance, presenting a problem for new boss Alonso to solve. The issue became more pressing after their recent 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, prompting wider discussions about how Madrid can make the partnership work without disrupting the team dynamic.

While speaking with Cadena SER, Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning manager Del Bosque gave his take, warning Alonso not to over-correct the situation: "A coach's obligation is to accept a little of who they are and, from there, try to get the best possible performance from them. And if you like Mbappe, then he has to play. And if you like Vinicius, then he has to play too."

He reminded Alonso that the players reached an elite level because of who they are, saying: "If not, then they wouldn't be Vinicius and they wouldn't be Mbappe. In the end, we often have to accept who they are, although that shouldn't jeopardize what should be teamwork. It's a fundamental lesson in football. First, we have to be all one. We have to do all the jobs we have to do, both defensive and offensive.

"Many times you have to look the other way and take advantage of who they are and accept them as they are with their flaws. If you're trying to get the most out of these players defensively, you might be messing things up because you lose what Mbappe and Vinicius are in front of goal. In the end, all opinions count."

Alonso’s task is clear: build a system that maximises both stars without compromising the team. Pre-season matches will be a testing ground for finding the right formula. Fans and pundits will watch closely to see if the new Los Blancos coach can strike a balance between tactical discipline and creative freedom.