Real Madrid Faces New Era After 4-0 PSG Defeat, Courtois Criticizes La Liga Scheduling

Real Madrid faced criticism from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois over La Liga's decision to schedule their league opener just three days after the Club World Cup, with concerns raised about player rest and preparation impacting health and competition quality. Despite support for a delay from Osasuna, the Spanish Football Federation, and the players' union, La Liga maintained the schedule, citing existing rules. Real Madrid's new manager Xabi Alonso described their 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinal as painful but emphasized that the team would start next season from scratch, aiming to build a cohesive unit and potentially make new signings. Gareth Bale, a former Real Madrid star, warned rivals like Barcelona that a new, fierce era is beginning under Alonso's leadership, expressing confidence in the team's future dominance. Alonso’s tactical changes in the semifinal, including a shift from a back-five to a four-man defense, were exploited by PSG early, underscoring the need for improvement. Despite the defeat, Alonso remains optimistic about the team's direction, and Bale's endorsement signals high expectations for Real Madrid’s competitive resurgence.