Xabi Alonso Points Out Key Areas For Vinicius Jr. And Mbappé's Development

Michael

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Post on Jun 30, 2025

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Xabi Alonso Highlights Key Areas for Vinicius Jr. and Mbappé's Development: A Masterclass in Forward Play

Xabi Alonso, the renowned former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder, now a successful manager at Bayer Leverkusen, recently offered insightful commentary on the development paths of two of football's most electrifying forwards: Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé. His observations, focusing on specific areas for improvement, provide a fascinating glimpse into the high-level tactical thinking required to maximize the potential of such exceptional talents.

While both players are already superstars, consistently delivering breathtaking moments of brilliance, Alonso suggests there are crucial areas where further refinement can elevate their game to even greater heights. His analysis transcends simple statistics, delving into the nuanced tactical aspects often overlooked in casual football discussion.

Vinicius Jr.: Mastering the Final Third Decision-Making

Alonso highlighted Vinicius Jr.'s explosive pace and dribbling ability as undeniable assets. However, he pointed out that refining decision-making in the final third is crucial for the Brazilian winger to become truly unstoppable.

“Vinicius is a force of nature,” Alonso stated in a recent interview. “His directness and ability to beat defenders one-on-one are exceptional. But sometimes, in the final third, he needs to be more patient. Knowing when to cross, when to shoot, and when to pass requires a level of tactical awareness that comes with experience and focused training.” This observation speaks to a common criticism of Vinicius Jr.: a tendency towards overly ambitious individual plays when a more measured approach might yield better results for the team.

• Key takeaway for Vinicius Jr.: Improved decision-making in the final third, focusing on varying his approach and choosing the optimal play based on the game situation. This involves honing his passing accuracy and developing a more varied shooting repertoire beyond his trademark powerful drives.

Kylian Mbappé: Enhancing Playmaking and Off-the-Ball Movement

Regarding Kylian Mbappé, Alonso praised his exceptional goalscoring ability and blistering speed, but emphasized the importance of developing his playmaking skills and off-the-ball movement.

“Mbappé is a phenomenal finisher,” Alonso acknowledged. “His speed is unmatched, and he's lethal in front of goal. But to reach the next level, he needs to become a more complete player. This involves improving his ability to create opportunities for teammates, as well as his movement without the ball to exploit spaces and become a more unpredictable threat.”

This highlights a subtle but significant aspect of Mbappé's game. While a prolific scorer, enhancing his playmaking could elevate PSG and France's overall attacking fluency. Improving his off-the-ball movement would also make him even harder to mark.

• Key takeaway for Mbappé: Focusing on becoming a more complete attacking player by developing his playmaking and off-the-ball movement. This might involve studying the movement patterns of players like Lionel Messi or Neymar Jr. to learn how to become a more effective facilitator and creator of chances.

The Takeaway: Continuous Growth at the Highest Level

Alonso's insightful comments underscore the fact that even the world's best players must continually strive for improvement. His observations provide a compelling roadmap for both Vinicius Jr. and Mbappé to reach even greater heights in their already illustrious careers. The path to becoming a truly legendary footballer is not a destination, but a continuous process of refinement and evolution. Both players, with the right coaching and dedication, have the potential to become even more impactful forces on the world stage. Only time will tell how well they heed Alonso’s advice, but one thing is clear: the journey to the pinnacle of football is a never-ending pursuit of excellence.