Carvajal welcomes Alonso’s disciplined approach at Real Madrid

Carvajal has played under both managers and noted that Alonso, who took over from Ancelotti in June, has placed a greater emphasis on discipline. He admitted that the players enjoyed more freedom during the Brazilian’s tenure, whereas Alonso has introduced a more demanding and structured environment.

The 33-year-old remains the only member of Madrid’s trophy-laden squad and is one of the few players to have featured throughout Ancelotti’s six seasons in charge. The veteran full-back also shared the dressing room with Alonso during the 2013-14 campaign, when the Spaniard was still part of the squad. 

Speaking to COPE, Carvajal reflected on the transition: "Ancelotti has been a legend at Madrid, and he will always be one in its history, but I think we needed a change. I think the manager saw it too. In the end, we'd already been with him for many years. Often, you need that change to change everyone's mindset; people who perhaps weren't so connected to it come online, to wake everyone up a bit, and I think it's been good for everyone.

"Each coach has his own methodology, as you say, they're different generations. It's true that, for example, with Carletto, we had much more freedom in that sense of, well, you came out a little later, although he got angry with us. Xabi is a little more upfront, with more discipline, but well, within each one, his own ideas. Football was invented many years ago, so each one takes the concepts that each one believes are best."

Alonso’s reign at the Santiago Bernabeu has started brightly. Despite the setback at the Club World Cup in July, Los Blancos head into the international break top of La Liga, having won all three of their opening matches. They return to action on 13 September with a trip to Real Sociedad, before facing Marseille in their first Champions League league-phase fixture on 16 September.