Gå ubegrenset med Magzter GOLD
Få ubegrenset tilgang til over 9000 magasiner, aviser og premiumhistorier for bare
Prøve GULL - Gratis
Reality check for Alonso after Al-Hilal draw
The Straits Times
|June 20, 2025
Xabi Alonso's glittering Real Madrid playing career offered no protection for their new coach against the harsh spotlight of expectation on June 18, as they laboured to a deflating 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener.
-
MIAMI - Xabi Alonso's glittering Real Madrid playing career offered no protection for their new coach against the harsh spotlight of expectation on June 18, as they laboured to a deflating 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener.
The result laid bare the task facing the 43-year-old Spaniard, who will be expected to conjure instant success after swapping Bayer Leverkusen for the pressure cooker of 15-time European champions Real.
"We know things take time, we need to correct a few details, everything takes time. It's been only nine days of work for me here," Alonso told a press conference after watching his depleted squad struggle against opponents they were expected to dispatch with ease.
With captain Dani Carvajal and centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao absent, Real's defensive fragility was exposed, despite the additions of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Denne historien er fra June 20, 2025-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Asian Winter Games postponed as Saudis require more 'preparation time'
The next edition of the Asian Winter Games, due to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2029, have been postponed, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a joint statement on Jan 24.
1 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
When couples battle over gifts worth millions
When couples are in love, they tend to be generous with gifts of money and expensive items, just like what we often see in TV series.
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Fight over $4m condo lands woman in jail after ex-lover files contempt-of-court suit
Rare case of someone fighting over assets to the point of refusing to obey court orders
5 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
China • 2 top army generals under probe
China's Communist Party has decided to open an investigation into two high-ranking military officials for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
1 min
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Confront criticism and learn from it
Nearly one year into the job at South-east Asia's largest bank, DBS CEO Tan Su Shan tells Sumiko Tan how life has changed and reflects on her leadership style and the mantra she lives by.
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Will the US stock market continue to be red-hot in 2026?
The US stock market turned in an eye-popping performance in 2025, for the third consecutive year.
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
Air France, KLM halt Dubai, Riyadh flights over geopolitical risks
Air France and KLM paused flights to and over several countries in the Middle East amid tensions between the US and Iran that could reverberate across the Persian Gulf.
1 min
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
TOH HOPES 11-GOLD TALLY CAN INSPIRE
It's also been Il years since first APG for para-swimmer whose main focus is 2028 Paralympics
3 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
UK's Starmer calls Trump's remarks on allies in Afghanistan 'frankly appalling'
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called US President Donald Trump’s comments about European troops staying off the front lines in Afghanistan insulting and appalling, joining a chorus of criticism from other European officials and veterans.
2 mins
January 25, 2026
The Straits Times
'Young' Mavericks ready to face Doncic's Lakers
Luka Doncic returns to Dallas for the second time since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers when they face the surging Mavericks on Jan 24 (Jan 25 morning, Singapore time) in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
2 mins
January 25, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size