Gareth Bale backs Xabi Alonso to make ‘big changes’ at Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid striker Gareth Bale has put his weight behind newly appointed head coach Xabi Alonso to make big changes at the club. The former Spain midfielder took over the coaching baton from Carlo Ancelotti recently.

Real Madrid was knocked out of the Club World Cup after they suffered a 4-0 semifinal loss against European champions Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium, on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Alonso had got the desired results while coaching Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundes Liga.

“I think if you look off what he did at Leverkusen, yes, and now he’s arguably got better players to work with and I imagine a bigger transfer kitty,” Bale said on ESPN FC TV.

“So I would like to think Xabi has got the respect of the players and the players will play for him. So I expect big changes and I expect them to play the way he wants them and if they don’t, I don’t think Xabi’s scared to drop anyone.”

During the off-season, Madrid have roped in defenders duo Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth but they were not available for the clash against PSG.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe scored 31 goals in the previous La Liga season for Los Blancos but the club finished the year without any silverware to show for.

“It’s a difficult one because he’s still scoring the goals, he’s still doing good things, it’s just they haven’t won anything this season,” Bale said of the France forward. “I think at Real Madrid you’re expected to win everything, so it’s a tough one because he’s still delivering on the pitch, but maybe he’s not having those moments.

“So I guess it’s now up to Xabi to find that blend of pressing and trying to get the best out of him and saving his energy for when you need him. So yeah, it’s going to be a tough one. I wouldn’t like to criticize him and say he’s had a bad season because of the goals and everything.

“But yeah, being his name, what you’re expecting him to do, of course everyone’s going to always expect more.”

Alonso would look to get the best out of his players in the upcoming season.