In the first match of the Club World Cup group stage, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso led the team to his first official match in his coaching career, against the Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal.

Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Al Hilal, despite a clear improvement in the final performance. Alonso said after the game that the team's performance in the first half was far from the standard, and stressed that control and rhythm will be the focus of adjustments in the next game.

At the press conference after the game, Alonso said: "We had too many problems in the first half. Whether it was ball possession or pressing, we were not mature enough. We lost the ball too quickly and the rhythm was too chaotic. These were problems we discussed before the game, but we still didn't master them at the beginning."

However, adjustments after the halftime break allowed Real Madrid to regain the initiative. Alonso pointed out that the team's response in the second half deserves recognition: "We adjusted the rhythm, introduced more suitable players, controlled the ball more stably, and were able to create opportunities near the opponent's penalty area. Although it is not perfect, it is a positive sign."

"We have only been training for nine days and have only practiced together three times. Everything takes time and repetition. Our goal is of course to win, but at the same time we also need to understand what kind of Real Madrid we want to be in actual games."

Talking about the direction of improvement for the next game, Alonso said: "The key is to maintain balance when possessing the ball. We need to control the ball longer, get closer to the opponent's half, and move the ball more confidently. We failed to do this in the first half and let the opponent find the rhythm."