Real Madrid hero questions players’ effort and suggests they have lost hunger in wake of Xabi Alonso’s departure

Former Real Madrid star Predrag Mijatovic has defended Xabi Alonso and suggested the club’s struggles this season are down to the players “losing hunger”.

Alonso left Madrid on Monday after an underwhelming seven months in charge over which time he failed to get his ideas over to a squad who reportedly challenged his authority on a regular basis.

From Vinicius Jr’s petulant response to being substituted in El Clasico to Kylian Mbappe’s insubordination after the Super Cup final defeat, it seemed the coach and his charges were never in  sync.

And Mijatovic, who scored the winner for Madrid in the 1998 Champions League final win over Juventus and later served as director of football, believes Alonso inherited a difficult situation.

He told El Larguero: “The feeling I have after watching a lot of games this year, not all, is that I think the players have not been able to understand his methodology and everything he demanded of them.

“In many games where Xabi made changes, the players reacted in a slightly strange way… right? As if saying ‘what is this’? I think the players didn’t understand Xabi Alonso, but I don’t want to say that the players are to blame. But I think that from the beginning they have not connected very well with the coach, at least with the demands of the coach.

“I think that last year the team was not good. [Carlo] Ancelotti is gone, now Alonso is gone. Maybe it’s not a coach problem, no, but rather of the squad and the players who perhaps at a certain moment have lost hunger.”

Mijatovic won over by first impressions of Real Madrid boss Arbeloa

Alvaro Arbeloa, formerly coach of Real Madrid Castilla, has taken over – although the club were vague regarding the contract he has been given, leading to questions over whether he is a permanent or temporary successor – and Mijatovic was impressed with the way he handled himself at yesterday’s introductory press conference.

He added: ”For me, the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as coach of Real Madrid is a bit hasty. In the last few games, Xabi Alonso’s Madrid had played better, but I think that in the defeat in the derby against Atlético Madrid all the doubts began.

“[But] After watching the press conference with Arbeloa – I watched it very carefully – he was fantastic. Very talkative, with a lot of good vibes and a lot of confidence. At no time have I seen him nervous, as if saying ‘Oh my God, what is this!’. And that tells me that he knows perfectly what he is doing. And that’s already very important for a coach.”

Arbeloa’s first game in charge is tonight’s Copa del Rey clash at Albacete.