The Real Madrid question Xabi Alonso must solve ahead of Club World Cup - Real Madrid have always been driven by star players - can Alonso break the cycle by imposing a tactical ideology to take the club into a new era?

Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Alonso may deploy his favoured 3-4-3 formation. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Xabi Alonso completed his first training session in charge of Real Madrid, ushering the biggest club in the world into a new era. Real Madrid bid farewell to the legendary Carlo Ancelotti in May to welcome Alonso back to the Spanish capital.