🔗 Share this article Xabi Alonso Treading a Fine Path at Real Madrid Despite Dressing Room Backing. No forward in Real Madrid’s annals had endured scoreless for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was released and he had a declaration to broadcast, performed for public consumption. The Brazilian, who had been goalless in almost a year and was commencing only his fifth appearance this term, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and sprinted towards the touchline to hug Xabi Alonso, the coach under pressure for whom this could prove an profound relief. “This is a tough time for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Performances aren't working out and I aimed to prove the public that we are together with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been lost, another loss ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso remarked. That can occur when you’re in a “sensitive” state, he elaborated, but at least Madrid had reacted. On this occasion, they could not complete a recovery. Endrick, brought on having played 11 minutes all season, rattled the woodwork in the final seconds. A Suspended Judgment “It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo said. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his position. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was felt privately. “We have shown that we’re behind the coach: we have given a good account, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so judgment was withheld, sentencing suspended, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla looming. A Distinct Kind of Loss Madrid had been overcome at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their uninspiring streak to two wins in eight, but this was a little different. This was the Premier League champions, rather than a lesser opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the simplest and most critical charge not levelled at them this time. With eight men out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a penalty, almost earning something at the final whistle. There were “a lot of very good things” about this showing, the manager argued, and there could be “no blame” of his players, not this time. The Bernabéu's Muted Reception That was not completely the full story. There were periods in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At the conclusion, a section of supporters had done so again, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But for the most part, there was a subdued stream to the subway. “That’s normal, we accept it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso added: “This is nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they cheered too.” Player Support Is Evident “I sense the support of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he backed them, they supported him too, at least in front of the cameras. There has been a coming together, discussions: the coach had accommodated them, maybe more than they had embraced him, reaching common ground not quite in the center. How lasting a fix that is remains an matter of debate. One small exchange in the post-match press conference felt telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that idea to remain unanswered, answering: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.” A Basis of Fight Above all though, he could be pleased that there was a spirit, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they stood up for him. This support may have been theatrical, done out of duty or self-preservation, but in this climate, it was significant. The commitment with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a danger of the most fundamental of expectations somehow being framed as a type of achievement. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had insisted the coach had a vision, that their failings were not his fault. “In my view my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The sole solution is [for] the players to improve the approach. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have witnessed a difference.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were supporting the coach, also responded quantitatively: “100%.” “We are continuing attempting to work it out in the locker room,” he elaborated. “It's clear that the [outside] chatter will not be helpful so it is about trying to resolve it in there.” “Personally, I feel the manager has been excellent. I individually have a excellent connection with him,” Bellingham added. “After the spell of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations among ourselves.” “All things ends in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps talking as much about poor form as everything.
No forward in Real Madrid’s annals had endured scoreless for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was released and he had a declaration to broadcast, performed for public consumption. The Brazilian, who had been goalless in almost a year and was commencing only his fifth appearance this term, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and sprinted towards the touchline to hug Xabi Alonso, the coach under pressure for whom this could prove an profound relief. “This is a tough time for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Performances aren't working out and I aimed to prove the public that we are together with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been lost, another loss ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso remarked. That can occur when you’re in a “sensitive” state, he elaborated, but at least Madrid had reacted. On this occasion, they could not complete a recovery. Endrick, brought on having played 11 minutes all season, rattled the woodwork in the final seconds. A Suspended Judgment “It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo said. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his position. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was felt privately. “We have shown that we’re behind the coach: we have given a good account, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so judgment was withheld, sentencing suspended, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla looming. A Distinct Kind of Loss Madrid had been overcome at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their uninspiring streak to two wins in eight, but this was a little different. This was the Premier League champions, rather than a lesser opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the simplest and most critical charge not levelled at them this time. With eight men out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a penalty, almost earning something at the final whistle. There were “a lot of very good things” about this showing, the manager argued, and there could be “no blame” of his players, not this time. The Bernabéu's Muted Reception That was not completely the full story. There were periods in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At the conclusion, a section of supporters had done so again, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But for the most part, there was a subdued stream to the subway. “That’s normal, we accept it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso added: “This is nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they cheered too.” Player Support Is Evident “I sense the support of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he backed them, they supported him too, at least in front of the cameras. There has been a coming together, discussions: the coach had accommodated them, maybe more than they had embraced him, reaching common ground not quite in the center. How lasting a fix that is remains an matter of debate. One small exchange in the post-match press conference felt telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that idea to remain unanswered, answering: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.” A Basis of Fight Above all though, he could be pleased that there was a spirit, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they stood up for him. This support may have been theatrical, done out of duty or self-preservation, but in this climate, it was significant. The commitment with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a danger of the most fundamental of expectations somehow being framed as a type of achievement. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had insisted the coach had a vision, that their failings were not his fault. “In my view my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The sole solution is [for] the players to improve the approach. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have witnessed a difference.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were supporting the coach, also responded quantitatively: “100%.” “We are continuing attempting to work it out in the locker room,” he elaborated. “It's clear that the [outside] chatter will not be helpful so it is about trying to resolve it in there.” “Personally, I feel the manager has been excellent. I individually have a excellent connection with him,” Bellingham added. “After the spell of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations among ourselves.” “All things ends in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps talking as much about poor form as everything.