Farewell to seniority, Alonso s iron-fisted military governance is reshaping Real Madrid s DNA

When Real Madrid's starting roster for away match against Oviedo was announced, a shock wave instantly penetrated the entire team's locker room.

Arnold, Militon, Vinicius, Brahim... Four players who were regarded as main players or important rotations in the past were pressed on the bench by new coach Harvey Alonso without mercy.

This is more than just a simple tactical rotation. This is the declaration issued by Alonso, proclaiming the end of one era and the beginning of another era. The hierarchy that relies on qualifications and reputation under Ancelotti has become a thing of the past. Today, the elite management system with performance as king will become the only new rule of the Bernabeu.

[Vinitius's privileges are deprived]

To understand the subversive nature of this revolution, you only need to look at what happened to Vinicius.

This Brazilian genius, in the Ancelotti era, almost had a gold medal in avoiding death. Although he has never scored away goals since December 2024 and his offensive efficiency has declined significantly, his starting position has never been truly threatened.

However, Alonso's arrival completely changed all this.

In the Club World Cup, he wanted to put Vinicius on the bench. And this time against Oviedo, he used the Brazilian as the rotation target.

This move has achieved miraculous results. After the substitute came on the bench, Vinicius, who was beaten, contributed an assist and a goal in just 30 minutes, and performed extremely well. Alonso's rotation, like an accurate scalpel, successfully activated the star in a sluggish state.

The more profound impact is that this move also made Vinicius instantly lose the most important bargaining chip in the contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid. He is no longer the privileged class who can lie on the credit book, but is just a member of the new coach's rotation lineup who needs to prove himself at any time.

[Who is the darling, who is the abandoned son]

Alonso's iron fist is quickly establishing a new team order. In this new order, there are almost no absolute non-sale products.

Except for goalkeeper Courtois and forward leader Mbappe, all other positions face fierce internal competition. Some players, with their excellent state and tactical adaptability, are becoming the darlings of new coaches, such as Huyson, midfielder Chu Ameni and Valverde, who have already been firmly in the core of the defense.

And other players were indirectly pushed to the brink of leaving the team in this change:

Dani Sebalos: After completely losing his position, he posted a farewell declaration of "The Last Dance" on social media, and the possibility of joining Marseille is increasing.

Rauer Asensio: This central defender, who comes from youth training, has become the fourth central defender after several serious mistakes in the Club World Cup, and his chances are slim.

Ferran Mendy: In the competition for left-back, he has completely lost to Carreras and Fran Garcia, and the club is looking for his next home in the last week of the transfer window.

Alonso uses the most direct employment choice to show everyone: either show off or leave.

【A storm】

"Everyone will play. In football, you have to understand something." After the game, Alonso explained his rotation philosophy lightly.

This practice of pulling all players back to the same starting line undoubtedly caused a storm in Real Madrid's locker room. But surprisingly, the storm was widely welcomed by players and club executives.

players saw an opportunity for fair competition. Whether it is the elderly whose main position is threatened or the newcomers who are eager to get ahead, the intensity and enthusiasm of training are invisibly increased. The club's senior management was delighted to see that the young coach was maximizing the use of Real Madrid's strong bench depth and using practical actions to win the true respect of the players.

Alonso's reforms may have brought some players out of their comfort zone, but it is reshaping a more thirsty, stronger and more united Real Madrid. The era of warmth in Ancelotti has come to an end, and Alonso's iron-blooded new era has just begun.