Xabi Alonso continues to leave his mark on Real Madrid’s identity—on and off the pitch. Since taking charge last summer, the Basque tactician has introduced a series of modern and disciplined changes at
Valdebebas, shaping a new era of precision and professionalism. From stricter daily routines to the use of drones to monitor training sessions, Alonso’s influence is evident everywhere. His latest adjustment, however, takes a page out of Real Madrid’s past.
Ahead of their Champions League showdown with Liverpool, Alonso has decided to abandon the club’s long-standing tradition of training at the match venue. Instead, his players will remain at Valdebebas for their final session at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, before flying to England later that afternoon. Only Alonso and a selected player will visit Anfield for the mandatory UEFA pre-match press conference—a procedural obligation that cannot be skipped.
It’s a significant departure from recent practice. Real Madrid have long been one of the few elite clubs that still used the opponent’s stadium for their final training session before European away matches. But Alonso’s decision mirrors a precedent set over a decade ago by José Mourinho, who was the first (and until now, only) manager to prefer staying at Valdebebas for pre-match preparations rather than training on foreign soil.
The team will conduct a full training session at home, eat lunch, and rest before departing for Liverpool at 4:00 p.m. They’re scheduled to land at 5:35 p.m. local time, one hour behind Madrid. The traveling squad will then check in at the INNSiDE by Meliá Liverpool hotel, while Alonso and one player—accompanied by the club’s communications staff—will head to Anfield for media duties.
