Although Real Madrid still tops La Liga, alarm bells are ringing in Madrid. After the 2-2 draw with promoted Elche, criticism of head coach Xabi Alonso is growing.
Real Madrid is on a tremendous rollercoaster ride at the end of the year. After six competitive wins in a row, the team has now gone three games without a win. The Champions League defeat in Liverpool was followed by two avoidable draws in the league: 0-0 against city rivals Rayo and 2-2 at promoted Elche.
Xabi Alonso demonstratively stood up for his team, which he said was by no means “down and out.” “They are continuing to fight,” the Real coach announced on Sunday: “The results and the game can be improved. We are self-critical, but the mood remains good.” Now it’s a matter of overcoming the “adversity.” “This is Madrid, and we know we have to live with criticism.”
In the current phase, the former successful coach of Bayer 04 Leverkusen needs a thick skin. His predecessor Carlo Ancelotti recently advised him: “One thing I’ve learned is that a draw here is the beginning of a crisis. You have to get used to that.”
There is currently much speculation in Spain’s capital about whether Xabi Alonso is really getting through to the team. “The connection with the players is improving. We know each other better, we’re all in the same boat and heading in the same direction,” assured the 43-year-old: “We celebrate together and are dissatisfied when we don’t win.” The main priority now is to “reverse the momentum.”
“Seriously failed” in line-up and substitutions?
Or are the problems perhaps deeper than that? In any case, Marca, which is close to the club, suspects the worst. On the in-house radio show La Tribu, journalist Roberto Gomez speaks of a “complete alienation between the team and the coach.” Xabi Alonso “failed badly” on Sunday, especially in terms of lineup and substitutions.
The decision not to include Vinicius Junior in the starting lineup was met with incomprehension. Various regulars such as Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras are completely out of form, and Rodrygo’s nomination to the starting lineup was unjustified. Gomez’s harsh conclusion: “The lineup was a real disaster.”
Xabi Alonso addressed the Vinicius Junior issue when asked: “That’s not a problem, we talked about it, as we often do. He understands and knew what role he would play.”
The coach saw completely different starting points. After the equalizer in the 78th minute, he would have liked to see “a little more pressure” from his team. However, there was a lack of “continuity.” Instead, Real conceded a second goal. What nevertheless makes Xabi Alonso optimistic ahead of Wednesday’s important Champions League away game at Olympiacos Piraeus: “The team didn’t give up.”
