Real Madrid also lost to Manchester City, but in a completely different way than against Celta Vigo. Is this performance enough to secure Xabi Alonso’s job?
It cannot exactly be said that Real Madrid’s team has done much to make Xabi Alonso’s life easier in recent weeks. After numerous slip-ups in La Liga, Los Blancos also lost the coach’s supposed make-or-break game against Manchester City 1-2. They have only managed two wins in six competitive games.
But a lot was different compared to the debacle against Vigo (0-2) a few days earlier. First of all, of course, the personnel: Real had to do without Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappé, among others, and with Dani Ceballos, Gonzalo Garcia, and Rodrygo, three players who are usually found on the bench were in the starting lineup. Real, severely weakened by substitutions, put in an impressive performance against ManCity, and there was no lack of character this time. “They were clearly better than us at times in the first half,” said City coach Pep Guardiola. But is this improvement enough to secure Xabi Alonso’s job? In any case, the team unanimously backed the coach.
After the game, Rodrygo and Raul Asencio were the first to speak out in favor of Xabi Alonso, followed by Jude Bellingham. “The coach is great. I personally have a very good relationship with him, and I know that many of the guys feel the same way,” said the Englishman. Thibaut Courtois also sees no reason for a change of coach.
“We stand behind him,” said the goalkeeper. “If someone hadn’t done that, we would have lost 6-0 today.” Ultimately, it is the players who have to take responsibility for the results. “But we’re not good enough, and there’s no excuse for that,” the Belgian continued.
But at Real, they are used to winning, so the air is likely to get thin for Xabi Alonso. Unsurprisingly, Marca has already declared a “red alert.”
The upcoming tasks would at least offer a chance to get back into the green zone. This Sunday, they face Deportivo Alaves, who are eleventh in the table, followed by a cup match against CF Talavera, who are bottom of the Spanish third division. In their last match before the winter break, Sevilla FC will be the visitors to the Bernabeu.
Xabi Alonso expects to remain on the bench. “I’m fully focused on the next game,” he said when asked about his future. “Real Madrid is important. It’s about the team, the players, and how I can help them. It’s not about me.”
