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At Real Madrid, it's not enough to play good soccer. It's also about satisfying egos, handling the press and winning trophies. This pressure is much greater than what Alonso experienced at Leverkusen. Alonso has a lot of potential to succeed in star management because he knows this environment as a footballer and he is intelligent. Xabi Alonso is also a former Real Madrid player. He knows the culture of the club and the dynamics in the dressing room. This could help him build a natural relationship of respect with the players.
Good squad depth and adequate coaching skills could help Xabi Alonso achieve success at Real Madrid. He has the potential to succeed, but that's never guaranteed, and his chances depend heavily on how the team plays alongside him. He understands Real Madrid and a lot about it, but La Liga has good teams and the title race is never easy.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are the two teams most likely to cause Real Madrid harm, even though Barcelona has been the most dominant team over the past decade. Barcelona's dominance can be measured by the number of titles they have won over the past 10 seasons, but Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid always have a chance to win the title.