Xabi Alonso returned to Real Madrid as one of the most highly-regarded young coaches in world football but after six months in the job he is already facing an uncertain future. Defeat to his old mentor Pep Guardiola has deepened the crisis.
Real Madrid’s performance in the 2-1 loss to Man City was not one of a team that had given up on their coach. They were fighting until the end, but it was not enough. Back-to-back defeats at the Bernabeu and just two wins in eight leaves Alonso in a precarious position.
Reports had claimed Alonso could be sacked if beaten at the Bernabeu, however the response from his players and the Spanish media suggest that he is not going anywhere just yet. But it seems time is running out for the Real Madrid legend to turn things around.
Jude Bellingham (left) is backing Alonso to turn things around at Real Madrid
Rodrygo opened the scoring for Real Madrid but Man City came back to win
Jude Bellingham is adamant that the players are “100 per cent” behind Alonso. “The manager has been great,” the England star told TNT Sports. “I personally have a great relationship with him and I know a lot of the boys do too.
“After that run of draws, we had some great conversations internally and felt we’d put that form behind us before the last couple of games. No one is downing tools, no one complaining or moaning. We take it on the chin and keep fighting.
Real Madrid’s results are on the slide
“We’re still trying to work it out within the changing room regardless of what goes on outside. We know that’s not helpful. One thing is how we’re managing games. Certain points where we have to suffer it feels like we always concede and it puts us on the back foot and makes us have to play a way we don’t want 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 other Real Madrid players have a good relationship with Xabi Alonso
Real Madrid’s season is very much not lost. LaLiga leaders Barcelona are only four points clear after 16 games and Real Madrid remain in the top eight of the Champions League standings despite losing to Guardiola’s City.
Alonso made such an impressive start to the season, with 15 wins from his first 16 games, including a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico in October.
However, the team are currently in the midst of an alarming slide. Three defeats in this run of eight games that was kick-started by the loss to Liverpool. It was only 1-0, but Real Madrid were outclassed when Alonso returned to Anfield.
Since then, Real Madrid have narrowly beaten Olympiakos and comfortably won at Athletic Club, drawn to Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Girona and now lost at home to Celta Vigo and Man City.
Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid have lost three of their last eight matches
There was an uptick in performance from the defeat over the weekend, but results matter more than anything for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. Alonso knows that all too well from his time at the club as a player.
“The performance was very intense, really professional,” he said after the defeat to City.
“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 easy implementing the ideas that brought him success at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the double in an unbeaten domestic campaign in 2023/24.
His ideas align more with his old Bayern head coach Guardiola than his former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who along with Zinedine Zidane mastered the art of managing the egos of the galacticos at the Bernabeu.
Alonso is a manager in a modern sense and wants all the players to contribute in attack and defence. That has not been the method that has brought Real Madrid success, though, and there have been teething issues.
Vinicius Junior reacts after a chance goes begging against Man City
Vinicius Junior’s angry reaction to being substituted in the win over Barcelona in October was a sign of these problems, and the Spanish media suggest they have not gone away.
Alonso knows what it takes to be successful at Real Madrid as a player, but as a coach, the jury is still out. There is no doubting his quality, the only concern is around if he is the right fit.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Sources: Big 12 nearing private capital deal that could raise up to $500 million
The Big 12 is nearing an agreement with RedBird and Weatherford Capital for a cash infusion of millions.Big 12 presidents and chancellors recently authorized commissioner Brett Yormark to take another step toward finalizing a credit deal that, if all schools choose to participate, would deliver $500 million to Big 12 members and create a strategic business partnership with the firms.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMultiple people with knowledge of the agreement spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. The Big 12 is not giving up any stake or equity to the firms. A final decision on the move is expected in the coming weeks after the completion of long-form agreements.In a statement to Yahoo Sports, the Big 12 confirmed that the league is in negotiations with the two firms to “create a multifaceted strategic business partnership” focused on growing commercial operations of the league, […]
Sources: Big 12 nearing private capital deal that could raise up to $500 million
The Big 12 is nearing an agreement with RedBird and Weatherford Capital for a cash infusion of millions.Big 12 presidents and chancellors recently authorized commissioner Brett Yormark to take another step toward finalizing a credit deal that, if all schools choose to participate, would deliver $500 million to Big 12 members and create a strategic business partnership with the firms.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMultiple people with knowledge of the agreement spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. The Big 12 is not giving up any stake or equity to the firms. A final decision on the move is expected in the coming weeks after the completion of long-form agreements.In a statement to Yahoo Sports, the Big 12 confirmed that the league is in negotiations with the two firms to “create a multifaceted strategic business partnership” focused on growing commercial operations of the league, […]
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfield announce they’re expecting their first child
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are expecting their first child together, the couple announced Friday.Steinfeld first tipped off fans via her Substack, listing 29 moments she enjoyed this year as she reaches her 29th birthday. The final point was a video, in which she and Allen celebrated the child to come, with him kissing her stomach and her wearing a shirt that reads "Mother."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe video was soon shared to their Instagrams.The Buffalo Bills quarterback and movie star have been together since 2023. They got engaged in 2024 and married earlier this year, in a ceremony in Ventura, California.Just last month, Steinfeld responded "Of course" when asked in an interview with Bustle if she was thinking about having children with Allen. In the same interview, she discussed the impact Allen has had in her life:“That inner peace that you have, that […]
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfield announce they’re expecting their first child
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are expecting their first child together, the couple announced Friday.Steinfeld first tipped off fans via her Substack, listing 29 moments she enjoyed this year as she reaches her 29th birthday. The final point was a video, in which she and Allen celebrated the child to come, with him kissing her stomach and her wearing a shirt that reads "Mother."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe video was soon shared to their Instagrams.The Buffalo Bills quarterback and movie star have been together since 2023. They got engaged in 2024 and married earlier this year, in a ceremony in Ventura, California.Just last month, Steinfeld responded "Of course" when asked in an interview with Bustle if she was thinking about having children with Allen. In the same interview, she discussed the impact Allen has had in her life:“That inner peace that you have, that […]
3 MLB Free Agent Fits for Los Angeles Dodgers After Signing Edwin Díaz
The Los Angeles Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions and just shored up a loose end, signing former New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal. So, in theory, maybe the Dodgers don't need to sign anybody else.But this is what Dodgers president Andrew Friedman gets paid to do: improve the roster by any means necessary.Here are three free agents the Dodgers should still pursue after securing Díaz. Pete Fairbanks boasts a career 3.19 ERA. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) <!--> -->2025 stats: 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 27 saves, 145 ERA+, 1.2 wins above replacement (60.1 innings pitched)Díaz gives the Dodgers their new closer, but their bullpen still needs to add depth pieces capable of pitching in the ninth inning. Enter the 6-foot-6 Fairbanks. The towering right-hander has been among MLB's best right-handed relievers over […]
Steelers star Watt has surgery on collapsed lung
Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt has had surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained during a dry-needling session.A seven-time Pro Bowler and the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the 30-year-old Watt has seven sacks this season for the Steelers (7-6), who hold a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (6-7) for the AFC North lead with four weeks remaining. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after practice on Friday that Watt was at home, resting, but would be unavailable when Pittsburgh host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Asked if Watt could be out for an extended period, Tomlin said he had not looked beyond this week. Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can […]
Related
Sources: Big 12 nearing private capital deal that could raise up to $500 million
The Big 12 is nearing an agreement with RedBird and Weatherford Capital for a cash infusion of millions.Big 12 presidents and chancellors recently authorized commissioner Brett Yormark to take another step toward finalizing a credit deal that, if all schools choose to participate, would deliver $500 million to Big 12 members and create a strategic business partnership with the firms.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMultiple people with knowledge of the agreement spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. The Big 12 is not giving up any stake or equity to the firms. A final decision on the move is expected in the coming weeks after the completion of long-form agreements.In a statement to Yahoo Sports, the Big 12 confirmed that the league is in negotiations with the two firms to “create a multifaceted strategic business partnership” focused on growing commercial operations of the league, […]
Sources: Big 12 nearing private capital deal that could raise up to $500 million
The Big 12 is nearing an agreement with RedBird and Weatherford Capital for a cash infusion of millions.Big 12 presidents and chancellors recently authorized commissioner Brett Yormark to take another step toward finalizing a credit deal that, if all schools choose to participate, would deliver $500 million to Big 12 members and create a strategic business partnership with the firms.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMultiple people with knowledge of the agreement spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. The Big 12 is not giving up any stake or equity to the firms. A final decision on the move is expected in the coming weeks after the completion of long-form agreements.In a statement to Yahoo Sports, the Big 12 confirmed that the league is in negotiations with the two firms to “create a multifaceted strategic business partnership” focused on growing commercial operations of the league, […]
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfield announce they’re expecting their first child
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are expecting their first child together, the couple announced Friday.Steinfeld first tipped off fans via her Substack, listing 29 moments she enjoyed this year as she reaches her 29th birthday. The final point was a video, in which she and Allen celebrated the child to come, with him kissing her stomach and her wearing a shirt that reads "Mother."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe video was soon shared to their Instagrams.The Buffalo Bills quarterback and movie star have been together since 2023. They got engaged in 2024 and married earlier this year, in a ceremony in Ventura, California.Just last month, Steinfeld responded "Of course" when asked in an interview with Bustle if she was thinking about having children with Allen. In the same interview, she discussed the impact Allen has had in her life:“That inner peace that you have, that […]
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfield announce they’re expecting their first child
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are expecting their first child together, the couple announced Friday.Steinfeld first tipped off fans via her Substack, listing 29 moments she enjoyed this year as she reaches her 29th birthday. The final point was a video, in which she and Allen celebrated the child to come, with him kissing her stomach and her wearing a shirt that reads "Mother."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe video was soon shared to their Instagrams.The Buffalo Bills quarterback and movie star have been together since 2023. They got engaged in 2024 and married earlier this year, in a ceremony in Ventura, California.Just last month, Steinfeld responded "Of course" when asked in an interview with Bustle if she was thinking about having children with Allen. In the same interview, she discussed the impact Allen has had in her life:“That inner peace that you have, that […]
3 MLB Free Agent Fits for Los Angeles Dodgers After Signing Edwin Díaz
The Los Angeles Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions and just shored up a loose end, signing former New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal. So, in theory, maybe the Dodgers don't need to sign anybody else.But this is what Dodgers president Andrew Friedman gets paid to do: improve the roster by any means necessary.Here are three free agents the Dodgers should still pursue after securing Díaz. Pete Fairbanks boasts a career 3.19 ERA. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) <!--> -->2025 stats: 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 27 saves, 145 ERA+, 1.2 wins above replacement (60.1 innings pitched)Díaz gives the Dodgers their new closer, but their bullpen still needs to add depth pieces capable of pitching in the ninth inning. Enter the 6-foot-6 Fairbanks. The towering right-hander has been among MLB's best right-handed relievers over […]
Steelers star Watt has surgery on collapsed lung
Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt has had surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained during a dry-needling session.A seven-time Pro Bowler and the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the 30-year-old Watt has seven sacks this season for the Steelers (7-6), who hold a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (6-7) for the AFC North lead with four weeks remaining. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after practice on Friday that Watt was at home, resting, but would be unavailable when Pittsburgh host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Asked if Watt could be out for an extended period, Tomlin said he had not looked beyond this week. Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can […]
Be the first to leave a comment