The constant turbulence of Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid

BarcelonaThere's no sign of the "unstoppable force" that Xabi Alonso promised to make Real Madrid into on the day he was presented as the brand-new manager. Although he never had Florentino Pérez's full confidence, neither when he was hired nor during the numerous disputes with Vinícius that the Basque coach has had so far, some within the inner circle of the all-powerful Real Madrid president suggest that he's keen to see him succeed. suggest that he opt for a more methodical coach. This meant changing the paradigm of recent years, in which Real Madrid had had great coaches but less interventionist and more managerial, like Carlo Ancelotti, with whom the team completely lost its way last season, or Zinedine Zidane. In fact, the former French footballer and Florentino Pérez's favorite is one of the names most frequently mentioned by the Madrid-based sports press as a potential replacement. The other leading candidate is the reserve team coach and also a former Real Madrid player, Álvaro Arbeloa, who, at the same time, maintains a close relationship with Alonso. After suffering two defeats in just four days at the Santiago Bernabéu – the first on Sunday against Celta Vigo (0-2) with the stadium booing, and the second against Manchester City (1-2) this Wednesday – the coach is on thin ice. For now, they've saved their skin because Real Madrid redeemed themselves against the English team, despite losing again.

Alonso's arrival on the bench was touted with great fanfare, including a three-year contract. Pure window dressing, since his position is already under scrutiny after just a few months. The Basque coach requested a central midfielder, a position that has proven to be a major Achilles' heel for Real Madrid following Toni Kroos' retirement two seasons ago. Florentino Pérez refused to grant Alonso's request to reinforce a position that continues to be weak, and where strategies like converting Arda Güler into a central midfielder are proving ineffective; in fact, the Turk was a substitute against Manchester City. The financial arguments never convinced the coach, especially since a player like Franco Mastantuono was signed for €45 million. However, he was granted permission to bring in Álvaro Carreras to play on the left flank.

Other factors, such as injuries at right-back to both Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold, have also shaken up a dressing room where the players wield too much power: Valverde, converted to right-back in an emergency, has complained openly about having to play in that position. The well-known incidents with Vinícius have already been mentioned: particularly telling was the day Alonso substituted him in the 72nd minute of the Clásico against Barça. Against City, Rodrygo returned to action, having gone more than nine months without scoring a goal in a white shirt. The Brazilian celebrated by hugging the manager. However, only Kylian Mbappé, with extraordinary numbers (25 goals in 21 games), has thrived amidst Real Madrid's constant turmoil.

Just one prestigious victory

Despite losing to City, Alonso gained a lifeline because his team battled until the very end. But the shortcomings of the project, if there is indeed a project, remain quite evident. At the start of his tenure, results saved him; now they no longer do, although he sits second in La Liga, four points behind Barça, and still has a chance of finishing in the top eight in the Champions League. This—and redeeming himself against City after the lackluster performance against Celta—allows Alonso to keep his job. In the big matches, however, Real Madrid has only managed a draw against Barça (2-1). The rest have been defeats: PSG thrashed them (4-0) in the Club World Cup, Atlético Madrid handed them a 5-2 thrashing, a Liverpool side in crisis also beat them (1-0), and City, without playing brilliantly, denied them victory (1-2). In La Liga, three consecutive draws against weaker opponents led to a poor run of form, which the team masked with a resounding 3-0 victory at San Mamés, but which was quickly forgotten after the humiliating defeat against Celta Vigo. The manager, for the moment, is holding onto his job. "Let him pee with his own," Pep Guardiola advised him before the match at the Bernabéu. "We have a good relationship. She'll know why she said that. I have nothing to say," Alonso replied after the defeat against Manchester City.