Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has shed light on his tactical plans for right-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal, while also addressing questions over whether Vinicius Júnior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo can all start together in his frontline.
The Spaniard sparked debate after benching summer signing Alexander-Arnold for the 3–0 win against Real Oviedo, a decision that surprised many supporters. Carvajal, still regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world and a long-standing leader in the dressing room, got the nod instead.
Alexander-Arnold returned to the starting XI in Madrid’s narrow 2–1 win over Mallorca before the international break, almost claiming his first assist for Los Blancos with a trademark defence-splitting pass—only for Mbappé to drift offside.
With a packed schedule of La Liga and Champions League fixtures ahead, Alonso stressed that rotation will be vital.
“Fortunately, we have healthy competition within the squad. That’s good for the team and the players,” Alonso explained. “Trent and Carvajal have also been effective in other positions, so whoever deserves it the most will play. That will be the case throughout the year.”
Alonso Confirms Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo Can Start Together
The Madrid boss was also asked whether his star-studded attacking trio—Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo—can feature in the same starting lineup.
Alonso gave a straightforward answer:
“Yes, they can. They played a lot last year and they can do the same now. We’ve only played three games, so we need to take things easier and assess as we go along.”
Speaking further on Mbappe’s influence at the Santiago Bernabéu, Alonso praised the Frenchman’s mentality:
“Kylian is in a great place, both in a footballing sense and personally. He’s hungry for another year at Madrid. That responsibility has to be shared across the team if we want to build a strong base for success. He’s a key part of that.”
With Real Madrid still fine-tuning under Alonso’s leadership, competition for places remains fierce—and the balance between star names and squad rotation will be crucial to the club’s domestic and European ambitions this season.
