Xabi Alonso returned to Actual Madrid as probably the most highly-regarded younger coaches in world soccer however after six months within the job he’s already dealing with an unsure future. Defeat to his outdated mentor Pep Guardiola has deepened the disaster.
Actual Madrid’s efficiency within the 2-1 loss to Man Metropolis was not one among a staff that had given up on their coach. They had been preventing till the top, however it was not sufficient. Again-to-back defeats on the Bernabeu and simply two wins in eight leaves Alonso in a precarious place.
Studies had claimed Alonso might be sacked if crushed on the Bernabeu, nevertheless the response from his gamers and the Spanish media counsel that he’s not going anyplace simply but. But it surely appears time is working out for the Actual Madrid legend to show issues round.
Rodrygo opened the scoring for Actual Madrid however Man Metropolis got here again to win
Jude Bellingham is adamant that the gamers are “100 per cent” behind Alonso. “The manager has been great,” the England star instructed TNT Sports activities. “I personally have a great relationship with him and I know a lot of the boys do too.
“After that run of attracts, we had some nice conversations internally and felt we would put that type behind us earlier than the final couple of video games. Nobody is downing instruments, nobody complaining or moaning. We take it on the chin and maintain preventing.
Actual Madrid’s outcomes are on the slide
“We’re nonetheless attempting to work it out throughout the altering room no matter what goes on outdoors. We all know that is not useful. One factor is how we’re managing video games. Sure factors the place we’ve got to endure it seems like we at all times concede and it places us on the again foot and makes us must play a manner we do not need to.
“But in the changing room we have what we need to turn it around, we need maybe a bit of luck or maybe something we need to discuss internally. I have faith this season isn’t over just because we’re in a bad run of form.”
Jude Bellingham insists he and different Actual Madrid gamers have a great relationship with Xabi Alonso
Actual Madrid’s season may be very a lot not misplaced. LaLiga leaders Barcelona are solely 4 factors clear after 16 video games and Actual Madrid stay within the high eight of the Champions League standings regardless of shedding to Guardiola’s Metropolis.
Alonso made such a powerful begin to the season, with 15 wins from his first 16 video games, together with a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico in October.
Nonetheless, the staff are at the moment within the midst of an alarming slide. Three defeats on this run of eight video games that was kick-started by the loss to Liverpool. It was solely 1-0, however Actual Madrid had been outclassed when Alonso returned to Anfield.
Since then, Actual Madrid have narrowly crushed Olympiakos and comfortably received at Athletic Membership, drawn to Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Girona and now misplaced at house to Celta Vigo and Man Metropolis.
Xabi Alonso’s Actual Madrid have misplaced three of their final eight matches
There was an uptick in efficiency from the defeat over the weekend, however outcomes matter greater than something for Actual Madrid president Florentino Perez. Alonso is aware of that each one too nicely from his time on the membership as a participant.
“The performance was very intense, really professional,” he mentioned after the defeat to Metropolis.
“We knew it was a Champions League level game, and they have given their best. From my side, no complaints at all about anything. It is hard to take another defeat, but we have tried until the end.”
Alonso has not had it simple implementing the concepts that introduced him success at Bayer Leverkusen, the place he received the double in an unbeaten home marketing campaign in 2023/24.
His concepts align extra along with his outdated Bayern head coach Guardiola than his former Actual boss Carlo Ancelotti, who together with Zinedine Zidane mastered the artwork of managing the egos of the galacticos on the Bernabeu.
Alonso is a supervisor in a contemporary sense and needs all of the gamers to contribute in assault and defence. That has not been the strategy that has introduced Actual Madrid success, although, and there have been teething points.
Vinicius Junior reacts after an opportunity goes begging in opposition to Man Metropolis
Vinicius Junior’s indignant response to being substituted within the win over Barcelona in October was an indication of those issues, and the Spanish media counsel they haven’t gone away.
Alonso is aware of what it takes to achieve success at Actual Madrid as a participant, however as a coach, the jury continues to be out. There isn’t a doubting his high quality, the one concern is round if he’s the precise match.
