Alonso’s Real Madrid problem: time is tight, many injuries, how to play so many big-name stars?

Less than two weeks left before the La Liga opening match (August 20 vs. Osasuna), the challenges facing Real Madrid's new coach Alonso are more difficult than expected. Time is tight, and the injury list is lined up in a long queue, not to mention how to arrange the group of super big-name stars under his command. Real Madrid's injury list was long enough when Alonso took over. On the defense line, Alaba and Mendy have just had surgery. It is still unknown whether they can catch up with the start of the league. It is difficult for Rudiger to return from injury. To make matters worse, new stars Enderick (with a tendon injury to the right leg) and Bellingham (anticipated to return at the end of October) also had high sign-free. New players Arnold and Heisen are still running-in, and young players Aguado and Yanes are temporarily pulled up to make up the numbers, and the defense line is under great pressure.

Mbappe joined with a huge annual salary (31 million euros) and 44 goals and 5 assists last season, and his core position is unquestionable. But this made Vinicius, one of the original top players, a little embarrassed, and the contract renewal negotiations stagnated. What's even more troublesome is tactical compatibility. Alonso wants to focus on the 352 formation, and Mbappe is likely to occupy the core position in the middle lane, so Vinicius has to pull in. The two of them cooperated a little unfamiliar last season, and now the space is even more crowded.

Brazilian striker Rodrigo has not reached an agreement with Premier League giants such as Arsenal and Liverpool, and is determined to stay in Real Madrid to prove himself. But he played very little in previous games and even sat on the bench in the semifinals. Alonso seems to position him in a rotational position at the moment. The 352 formation in the new season focuses on double strikers, and Rodrigo faces more fierce competition. If he can't find the feeling of pre-season warm-up matches, his net worth of up to 90 million euros may cause the club to consider an emergency sale.

Real Madrid introduced four new players in one go, three of whom were defenders! But how to combine it? At the central defender position, Militon is going to make a comeback, Rudiger has a stable position, and new aid Heysen must compete for his job. Left back, Mendy was injured, Carreras and Garcia had to take the opportunity. Right back, Kavajal is back, but the new Arnold is not a fuel-saving lamp. The helpless move that made Chu Ameni guest appearance as a central defender exposed the problem of shortage of personnel in the defense line.

Kroos retired, Modric left the team, and Real Madrid's core midfield structure was dispersed. Young player Guillail tried the role of "New Cross" in previous games, and the effect was highlighted but the stability was not enough. Kamavenga returned to the team after recovering from injury, but the specific position of the game has not been decided yet. Bellingham has to recover from his long-term injuries again, who will fill his vacancy? Sebalus has been basically marginalized. At present, it seems that only Chu Ameni has the most stable position in the back. It is not ruled out that the club has to find someone in the transfer market.

Alonso's debut in Real Madrid coaching was difficult mode. Time is tight, there are many casualties, how to arrange the crowds of superstars, running-in with new formations, lack of people at key positions... Every thing is enough for him to have a headache. With only two weeks left before the league starts, Bernabeu fans are waiting to see how this former "midfielder brain" can quickly solve this series of problems.