Mansion Sports - Real Madrid's ambitions of lifting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup trophy came to a crashing halt following a 0–4 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal.

This heavy loss also marks the first major setback in the tenure of newly appointed head coach Xabi Alonso, who succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in May.

First Defeat in the Xabi Alonso Era

The match, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, served as a sobering reality check for Alonso and his squad.
PSG, displaying dominance from the opening whistle, decisively ended Los Blancos’ hopes of clinching the title in FIFA's revamped club competition format.

Despite the crushing result, Alonso refrained from pointing fingers or making excuses. Instead, he treated the defeat as a vital step in the learning curve required to build a new and competitive version of Real Madrid.
“Today was good for us, to understand how far we still have to go,” Alonso stated after the match, underlining his focus on long-term growth rather than short-term disappointment.

Early Defensive Errors Prove Costly

PSG took an early lead within the first eight minutes, capitalizing on critical defensive errors by Raul Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger.

The mistakes were expertly punished by Fabián Ruiz and Ousmane Dembélé, putting Real Madrid on the back foot before they could establish any rhythm.

“The opening moments of the match were decisive; by the 10th minute, things were already difficult,” Alonso admitted.

He acknowledged the stark contrast in organization and cohesion between PSG—meticulously built by Luis Enrique over the past two years—and his own Madrid side, which remains in a transitional phase.

Real Madrid Not Yet Prepared for Elite Opposition

The 42-year-old manager openly admitted that his squad is not yet equipped to challenge elite-level teams like PSG.

He stressed that significant work remains to be done in shaping a squad capable of matching the tactical precision and technical quality exhibited by the French champions.

“There is much to analyze and learn from today’s defeat,” Alonso explained.

He further emphasized that this loss should not be seen as the beginning of a new chapter, but rather as the close of the current one—a final moment from which to launch a better-prepared campaign next season.

“Today is not the start of next season; it is the end of this one. We will begin again with a different approach,” he declared firmly.

Emotional Farewell for Modrić and Vázquez

The match against PSG also marked the final appearance for two of Real Madrid’s long-serving icons, Luka Modrić and Lucas Vázquez, who officially bid farewell to the club after more than a decade of dedicated service.

“I tried to ensure they could enjoy their final days with us. It wasn’t the farewell we hoped for, but I am thankful for everything they’ve contributed,” Alonso remarked.

With the departure of these key veterans and the early exit from the tournament, Xabi Alonso now faces the considerable task of rebuilding the squad and forging a new team identity—one that will be capable of competing at the highest level in the coming season.