Real Madrid head coach, Xabi Alonso, has acknowledged that his team struggled significantly against Paris Saint-Germain in their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final showdown on Wednesday.
The Spanish giants were humbled 4-0 by PSG, the reigning UEFA Champions League holders, in New Jersey, crashing out of the tournament in brutal fashion.
Madrid’s downfall began with defensive lapses that gave PSG early momentum, and they never managed to recover.
From start to finish, Luis Enrique’s side dominated the encounter, leaving little room for Alonso’s men to impose themselves.
Despite a smooth run to the final four, Real Madrid found themselves completely outplayed on the big stage. The loss leaves Alonso with much to ponder heading into the off-season.
In his post-match remarks, Alonso didn’t shy away from the gulf in class between the two sides, stating his squad still has a long way to go.
“There’s a lot to analyse and learn from. We now know where we are, and where to look, and where we want to be and prepare for it,” the former Bayer Leverkusen boss told Football Espana.
“PSG are a team. We have just begun our journey. We suffered and it was difficult. There are many things we want to do better. It hurts today.
“This is the last game of the 2024/25 season. Our season now starts in August,” he added.
As the curtain falls on their campaign, Alonso’s focus will now shift toward rebuilding and strengthening the team ahead of the upcoming season.