Alvaro Benito: “Is Xabi Alonso tactically ready? Definitely…. But when you get behind the wheel..”

Former Real Madrid youth team coach and current pundit Álvaro Benito spoke candidly on Cadena SER, defending Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. in the wake of recent criticism aimed at the duo. With Madrid’s season hanging in the balance, Benito called for a deeper, more honest analysis of the team’s performances—and a broader perspective on accountability.

“You Demand More From the One Who Can Give You the Most”

Benito addressed the growing scrutiny on Mbappé following a series of underwhelming team performances, particularly in big matches.

“There are 20 others who should be hiding more than Mbappé,” Benito stated. “In the end, you demand more from the one who can give you the most. He and Vinicius have been the scapegoats for the team’s disappointing performance.”

Results Don’t Change the Need for a Hard Look

With Real Madrid still in the running for both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Benito warned against letting possible silverware mask larger issues.

“First we have to see how the season ends (before blaming one individual),” he said. “But however it ends, we have to do a thorough analysis.”

Even if Madrid defeat Barcelona and lift another trophy, Benito believes the club must evaluate the style of play and its deficiencies—particularly without the ball.

“We’ve talked a lot about their work without the ball, which has been very poor, and I’m not going to defend them now. But I think the team has provided [Mbappé and Vinicius] with very few favorable situations offensively in terms of play. They’ve had to manage practically all of them.”

On Xabi Alonso: “It’s the Toughest Bench in the World”

“Is Xabi Alonso ready? Nobody knows that, not even him,” he said. “Is he tactically ready? Definitely. Ready in terms of knowing what it means to be here? Yeah.”

However, he cautioned that Real Madrid presents a unique challenge unlike any other.

“When you get behind the wheel, the curveballs start, and we’ll see. It’s the toughest bench in the world,” Benito explained. “A priori, I think he is [ready]—that he has the knowledge, the personality, and the empathy, which are the things a Real Madrid coach should have.”