Real Madrid News
Xabi Alonso keen on signing Real Madrid defender for Chelsea
Alvaro Carreras has once again emerged as a potential departure from Real Madrid.
Although the left-back is keen to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu, SPORT (h/t Bernabeu Digital) reports that Xabi Alonso continues to view him as one of his priority targets and remains determined to bring him to Chelsea.
The Spanish coach has identified Carreras as a key signing from the moment he took charge in London and believes the defender would fit perfectly into his long-term project at Stamford Bridge.
A long-standing admiration
Xabi Alonso’s interest in Carreras dates back to his appointment as Chelsea manager, but it intensified following Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid.
With Chelsea needing to strengthen the left side of their defense, the Real Madrid left-back has remained at the top of Alonso’s wishlist for several weeks.
However, Real Madrid have already informed the Premier League club that they will not entertain offers for the Spaniard, although proposals around €50 million could test their resolve.
Despite the possibility of a steep price tag, Alonso has not abandoned hope of completing the transfer, and Chelsea could still decide to match Madrid’s asking price.
Carreras wants to stay
Having already sold Fran Garcia, Real Madrid are unlikely to want to part ways with Carreras as well this summer.
Moreover, the biggest obstacle for Chelsea in their pursuit of the defender may be the player himself.
Indeed, Carreras wants to remain in Madrid after arriving only a year ago and still believes he can establish himself at the club.
The former Benfica full-back arrived at the Bernabeu with a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young left-backs.
However, after a season in which he failed to cement a regular starting place, and with the arrival of Cucurella, he has slipped down the pecking order.
A move to Chelsea could offer him the opportunity to become an undisputed starter under a coach who has shown consistent faith in him.
If he stays in Madrid, he is expected to play a secondary role behind Cucurella, who has been signed to become the club’s first-choice left-back.
Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu are beginning to grow frustrated by the chances being missed – something that they made very clear during last night’s narrow 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
But, according to MARCA, there is no alarm or worry inside the locker room. Mourinho and his players believe they are creating enough opportunities and are confident the goals will come.
There is no sense of panic
Real Madrid have created 15 clear-cut chances across their last two matches against Inter and Real Betis, but have scored only twice.
That statistic may cause concern from the outside, but Mourinho and his players have a different interpretation. They believe the team is generating enough danger and, for that reason, see no need to change direction.
For Mourinho, creating chances is the foundation of the team’s attacking game.
Real Madrid are finding space through quick transitions, establishing themselves in the opposition half and regularly getting their forwards into dangerous positions.
From inside the club, therefore, the problem is viewed as one of finishing rather than attacking structure.
The team is producing enough opportunities to have scored considerably more goals, and there is complete confidence that the gap between chances created and goals scored will eventually narrow.
That is why the last two matches have not triggered any internal debate about changing the approach.
Instead, the message is to continue doing what is working, keep creating opportunities and become more effective in the final third.
Decision-making, accuracy and composure in front of goal are the areas where Real Madrid believe they need to take the next step.
No reason to change course
The report further claims that Mourinho also understands that finishing comes in cycles. Some matches see a team convert almost every opportunity it creates, while in others it takes a large number of chances to find the net.
Real Madrid are currently experiencing the latter, but the Portuguese coach believes the most important thing is to remain on the right side of the equation, where the opportunities are consistently being produced.
For the coaching staff, 15 clear chances in two matches is a positive sign, particularly for a team still learning some of the movements demanded by Mourinho’s new system.
Mourinho also does not want his players to lose confidence because of a temporary lack of efficiency. So, there is no major reason for worry in the locker room despite the growing frustration among fans.
