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.
people's expectations are indeed higher for a club like real madrid, because it's a big club and one of the most respected in the world. so the pressure is much greater than coaching a team like leverkusen, which is different from real madrid. this is also why this transition period is so difficult for xabi. not only does he have to be able to handle the pressure, he also has to think about strategy, manage star players, and improve real madrid's mentality, which hasn't performed so well this season.
so this is quite a difficult time for xabi because it's during this period that his managerial skills are truly tested. and if he can overcome this period by improving real madrid's performance, then he doesn't just become a good manager, but a great one.