Denis Popov Shares Thoughts on Xabi Alonso

Denis Popov, former striker for Moscow's CSKA team and ex-head coach of "Ufa" club, shared his thoughts on Real Madrid. In an interview with "Evro-Futbol.ru," he discussed Xabi Alonso's coaching abilities and the challenges facing Real Madrid.

According to Popov, Real Madrid is a team composed of some of the best players in the world, and there is no need for special preparation for such players because they already excel in their roles. He agreed with Thierry Henry's opinion, emphasizing that the coach's role at Real Madrid accounts for only 10%, while the remaining 90% depends on the players.

This approach is particularly characteristic of top-tier clubs. Popov believes psychology plays a significant role in Real Madrid's success.

While a coach needs to understand physical preparation, tactics, and other technical aspects, establishing psychological connections with players is equally essential. He attributed Carlo Ancelotti's success at Real Madrid to his ability to communicate effectively with players on a psychological level.

Popov stated that he does not consider Xabi Alonso a poor coach but emphasized the difference between managing teams like Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid. At Bayer, players fully adhere to the coach, whereas at Real Madrid, managing star players is more challenging.

This explains the current difficulties at Real Madrid. There are unofficial reports suggesting that Xabi Alonso has only three matches to turn the situation around.

In such a short time, the coach needs to unite the team and build a good relationship with the players. Popov highlighted that a coach must always maintain psychological stability; otherwise, overcoming challenges becomes impossible.

As a reminder, in the 16th round of the Spanish Championship, Real Madrid will face Alaves on December 14. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!