Xabi Alonso is using a 4-player defense line for now unlike his preferences at Leverkusen. It was like that in his first two games in the FIFA Club World Cup at least. I think this is the best choice because they would have rotational problems for CBs otherwise.
In case of injuries I mean. Anyways, it was nice to see Arda Guler as a starter too. Xabi Alonso cares about him way higher than Ancelotti. Unlike him, he wants to have Arda adapted to midfield. To play in Modric's role maybe. Let's see whether it works...
4-player defense seem worked, but Trent was meh. He's ass in the last two games, and bad defensively. Xabi must tell him about flaws. Although he's older than Huijsen, but his performance is not as good as Huijsen.
Since the first match against Al Hilal, Xabi's task was indeed very difficult to be able to change Real Madrid's playing style, it was very obvious from Real Madrid's game like a confused person on the field with a new formation and style. But that's where Xabi Alanso's greatness is, he quickly fixed himself and found a way out in the second match against Pachuca, Xabi managed to do it well even though he played with 10 players but the strategy implemented went according to plan, Huijsen and Trent also improved.
Especially when entering the 2nd half, Real Madrid's game after Brahim Diaz came in, ball possession was still good, and in the 60th minute when Modric came in Madrid's game flowed more, maybe the effect of Modric who could control the tempo of the ball. So the implementation of Xabi's tactics went according to the passing system and moved to find space for all Madrid players, and when the 3rd goal was perhaps as expected by Xabi, the ball went through making the enemy's defense line move forward until Valverde went up unmarked to take advantage of the opportunity with 1 touch, and Vini was quite good at his job, it turned out that he was indeed tasked with disrupting the defense line but the executor was in the middle line and Gonzalo.