Bale backs Alonso to make 'big changes' at Madrid

Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale expressed strong confidence in new head coach Xabi Alonso's ability to transform the team, stating Alonso won't hesitate to drop underperforming players. Alonso returns to Madrid after leaving Bayer Leverkusen, tasked with restoring trophy success following a silverware-free season under Carlo Ancelotti.

Bale, speaking to ESPN FC TV, predicted Alonso could effectively integrate stars like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior into a cohesive unit. He highlighted Alonso's successful Leverkusen tenure, noting Madrid's superior squad quality and larger transfer budget should facilitate "big changes." Bale emphasized players' respect for Alonso and expectation they'll adapt to his system or face exclusion.

Real Madrid's season concluded with a 4-0 Club World Cup semifinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain, intensifying scrutiny on Mbappé. Despite finishing as LaLiga's top scorer with 31 goals, Madrid won no trophies—while PSG claimed the Champions League and reached the Club World Cup final without him. Bale acknowledged the paradox: Mbappé delivered individually but couldn't prevent collective failure at a club where "winning everything" is mandatory.

Regarding Mbappé's challenge, Bale refrained from labeling his season poor due to strong statistics but noted heightened expectations. He stressed Alonso's critical role in optimizing Mbappé's pressing efficiency and energy management while maximizing his attacking impact.

The PSG defeat marked Luka Modrić's final Madrid appearance before joining AC Milan. Bale, his former teammate at Tottenham and Madrid, lauded the 39-year-old as an "incredible footballer" who defied physical expectations and improved like "fine wine" with age. He suggested Modrić could still play but understood Madrid's shift toward younger talents.

Bale, who won the 2013-14 Champions League alongside Alonso as players, expressed hope that Alonso would replicate such success as coach, leveraging their shared history and Madrid's resources.