Former German football star Jurgen Klinsmann has said that Real Madrid’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, may have a tough time managing Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. According to Klinsmann, these two attacking players could make Alonso’s job harder because of their lack of defensive effort.

Klinsmann pointed out that it might not be easy for Alonso to convince both players to help out more in defense. While they are top talents in attack, asking them to track back and defend regularly may be a big challenge for the coach.

Xabi Alonso, who used to play as a midfielder for Real Madrid, returned to the club as manager at the end of the season. He has signed a contract to stay with the Spanish giants until June 2028.

In an interview with Spanish media outlet Marca, Klinsmann was asked whether Alonso would be able to get his star forwards to defend. He responded, “Teams with Messi are the only ones that can afford to defend with just 10. Even Real Madrid are trying to get Mbappe and Vinicius to drop back to defend. Am I convinced that Xabi Alonso will achieve it? No, really [laughs].”

Klinsmann added that Mbappe is now an experienced player, and Vinicius seems to follow his lead when it comes to defending. Neither of them contributes much in that area. However, Klinsmann believes Alonso will find a way to handle their personalities and get the best performance out of both players.

He also recalled how Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had a tough time managing star players like Neymar, Mbappe, and Lionel Messi together, saying it’s never easy when you have several big names in one team.

Klinsmann’s comments highlight the kind of pressure Xabi Alonso may face in his new role. Balancing team success with managing egos and playing styles will be key to his success at Real Madrid.