Xabi Alonso Issues Bold Challenge as He Hunts Down Historic 20-Year Madrid Derby Milestone
Xabi Alonso cautioned that his team remains "in development" despite having the chance to equal the best opening run by any Real Madrid coach in history when they face Atlético Madrid in Saturday's derby clash.
The ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager secured his sixth straight La Liga victory on Tuesday evening, guiding his team to an emphatic 4–1 triumph away at Levante. Kylian Mbappé found the net once more, extending his impressive tally to seven league strikes with another double, while Vinícius Júnior provided the ideal answer to speculation about his discontent with a sublime finish curled using the outside of his foot into the far corner.
If Alonso manages to stretch his winning run to seven consecutive league victories this weekend, he would equal the historic benchmark established by Vanderlei Luxemburgo in 2005. The controversial Brazilian coach achieved the longest sequence of top-flight wins in Madrid's record books after inheriting a squad filled with superstar Galácticos at the start of that year.
However, despite the promising start, Luxemburgo's tenure ended in disappointment. Madrid captured no silverware that campaign, placing second in La Liga behind Barcelona while suffering elimination in the Champions League round of 16. Despite having access to legends like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Raúl, Madrid suffered an embarrassing Copa del Rey defeat to second-division Real Valladolid.
Best Starts for Real Madrid Managers in 21st Century
Manager | Year | Winning Start to La Liga |
|---|---|---|
Vanderlei Luxemburgo | 2005 | 7 |
Xabi Alonso | 2025 | 6* |
Manuel Pellegrini | 2009 | 5 |
Bernd Schuster | 2007 | 3 |
Carlo Ancelotti | 2013 | 3 |
Julen Lopetegui | 2018 | 3 |
*Run ongoing.
Xabi Alonso: Start is Just the Beginning
Determined to prevent a similar false start, Alonso emphasized that his Madrid squad remains in the preliminary phases of continuous development. "We're definitely in a growth period, we're still constructing," he cautioned. "We've been working together for 51 days and there's still a considerable journey ahead. We're establishing a strong foundation to compete effectively in La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa [del Rey].
"They [the players] all feel engaged and like crucial members of the squad. There's still potential for enhancement but we're heading in the correct direction—not just with the outcomes but also our approach. We cannot halt, this is merely the start and we aim to maintain our competitive standards.
"Having talented players simplifies everything, and it requires minimal preparation for them to grasp our concepts and objectives. They're adaptable, they're not restricted to one particular style, they can execute various tasks and even operate in different roles."
Alonso might feel confident about matching Luxemburgo's milestone against a struggling Atlético team. Diego Simeone's disappointing squad has managed only one victory from their opening five matches across all tournaments this season.