Xabi Alonso outlines striker-heavy plan: Endrick to create space for Mbappé, Vini and Jude

Xabi Alonso has outlined a bolder attacking setup for Real Madrid against deep-lying defenses, noting the team has already tried adding extra forwards in phases. He highlighted Endrick’s movement as a trigger to open lanes for Kylian Mbappé, while short, sharp runs should free Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham between the lines. The message is simple: pack the box, force second balls, and manipulate the last line with constant rotations. It is a clear nod to a more aggressive, positionally fluid Madrid for the next match, with Endrick’s link play and Mbappé’s gravity central to the plan.

Pre-match media availability ahead of a key Real Madrid fixture, with Alonso discussing tactical options to face compact, low blocks. The coach emphasized box occupation, short runs, and flexible roles for Endrick, Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., and Bellingham. The context points to Madrid preparing solutions for opponents who sit deep and deny space in transition.

🗣 Xabi Alonso: "Playing with more strikers? We’ve done it at times. Endrick played well, he created space for Kylian. We can prepare for matches against deep-lying defenses, we need to pack the box. We can make short runs to create space for Vini, Jude, Kylian… We have to

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Alonso’s comments signal a practical response to the most common plan used against Madrid: a low block that compresses the final third and denies space for Vinícius and Mbappé to accelerate. Packing the box is less about sheer numbers and more about stressing the last line in staggered lanes. When Endrick pins a center back, Mbappé can bend runs off the blindside and Vini can receive earlier or cut inside a beat quicker. Jude thrives arriving late, so the second-ball picture becomes crucial. With more bodies between the posts, Madrid can recycle possession quicker and attack rebounds decisively.

There is also a structural benefit. Extra forwards often force fullbacks and wingers to alternate width and half-space duties, creating repeatable patterns rather than flat crossing. Short, synchronized runs draw defenders out of their shape, opening the edge of the box for Jude’s first-time finishes. The risk is obvious: if rotations are sloppy, transitions against can bite. That means the holding midfielder and the far-side fullback must be locked in to protect rest defense. Still, given Madrid’s ball winners and recovery pace, the upside is significant. Endrick’s compact link play and Mbappé’s gravity should tilt shot quality upward against conservative opponents.

Reaction

Fan reaction split quickly. Some backed the idea, praising the clarity and timing, arguing the attack has started to click and that movement is more important than simply adding strikers. Others pushed back hard, claiming Madrid have not truly committed to a multi-forward setup and accusing the coach of over-selling past tweaks. A vocal group insisted that playing “more strikers” misses the point if the spacing is poor, highlighting sequences where lanes for Vinícius were clogged and Jude ended up functioning as a de facto striker anyway.

The biggest debate centered on Mbappé’s role. Supporters of the plan say his off-ball gravity will always bend back lines, giving Endrick and Vini cleaner touches. Critics counter that if Mbappé drifts into Vini’s zones, the left channel jams, and Madrid lose their best progression route. There were also pragmatic voices urging patience: results matter, and the next 90 minutes will validate or expose the rhetoric. The overall tone: intrigued but skeptical, demanding proof against a good opponent that sits deep and punishes over-commitment on the break.

Social reactions

He doesn’t even play any strikers, what’s he on about? 😭🤣 No wonder we play shit against good teams, because the striker he plays is Mbappe who don’t make space for the others, he blocks their space instead 🤣🤣

Unknown (@UnknownDude_069)

Even Xabi knows Jude is a striker. We might have to find a new midfielder

IdletMo🤍 (@Dkmolen1)

I hardly see my players packing the box. Maybe playing more strikes is a good move.

IdletMo🤍 (@Dkmolen1)

Prediction

If Alonso leans into this, expect Endrick to start or appear early as the reference point, with Mbappé free to knife across the line and Vini threatening diagonal cuts from the left. Jude will time late arrivals to punish clearances, while fullbacks choose their moments rather than bomb forward recklessly. The triggers should be simple: one touch into Endrick’s feet, immediate run off the shoulder from Mbappé, and a third-man option for Vini or Jude attacking the vacant lane. Frequent cutbacks over hopeful crosses will be the directive.

Two scenarios emerge. Best case: Madrid score first, the block loosens, and rotations rip through the lanes. Endrick creates separation without needing many touches, Mbappé draws doubles, and Jude cleans up second balls. Alternative: the box gets crowded and Madrid stall, inviting counters. Then Rodrygo’s elasticity becomes vital, offering right-side depth and combination play to unpin the shape. Set pieces could decide it as well, with Jude’s timing and Madrid’s screen routines producing the marginal gain. Either way, the template looks repeatable if spacing and pressing rest-defense are sharp.

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Conclusion

Alonso’s message lands as both assurance and challenge. Assurance that Madrid have a repeatable pattern for the most stubborn game state in modern La Liga: packed penalty areas and little transition space. Challenge because execution under pressure, with precise spacing, is everything. Endrick’s role is the quiet hinge here. If he pins and releases at the right moments, Mbappé and Vini will see cleaner pictures, and Jude will arrive to finish what chaos creates. If not, the left channel crowds and the rhythm breaks.

I have seen Madrid look blunt in similar fixtures when they became impatient and crossed from poor angles. This plan is designed to avoid that trap. Short runs, quick combinations, and a ruthless hunt for second balls can turn sterile possession into high-value chances. The next match will tell us if Madrid can turn intention into habit. If they do, low blocks will feel a lot less comfortable at the Bernabéu.