🔗 Share this article Xabi Alonso Walking a Thin Tightrope at the Bernabéu Even With Player Backing. No forward in Real Madrid’s annals had gone without a goal for as long as Rodrygo, but finally he was unleashed and he had a declaration to deliver, acted out for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and ran towards the bench to greet Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could prove an even greater liberation. “It’s a difficult period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Performances aren’t coming off and I sought to show everyone that we are united with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the lead had been lost, a defeat ensuing. City had turned it around, taking 2-1 ahead with “very little”, Alonso remarked. That can happen when you’re in a “fragile” state, he added, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not engineer a turnaround. Endrick, brought on having played very little all season, rattled the bar in the closing stages. A Delayed Verdict “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo conceded. The issue was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to hold onto his position. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was perceived internally. “We have shown that we’re behind the coach: we have played well, offered 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the axe was withheld, any action pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A More Credible Kind of Loss Madrid had been overcome at home for the second time in four days, extending their recent run to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this felt a somewhat distinct. This was the Premier League champions, rather than a La Liga opponent. Streamlined, they had actually run, the easiest and most harsh criticism not directed at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a spot-kick, 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, tonight. The Bernabéu's Muted Reaction That was not entirely the full story. There were moments in the closing 45 minutes, as frustration grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At the conclusion, a section of supporters had continued, although there was in addition some applause. But mostly, there was a muted flow to the subway. “We understand that, we accept it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso added: “This is nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were instances when they cheered too.” Squad Backing Is Strong “I feel the confidence of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he stood by them, they backed him too, at least in front of the cameras. There has been a unification, talks: the coach had accommodated them, arguably more than they had embraced him, meeting a point not precisely in the middle. Whether durable a remedy that is continues to be an open question. One small moment in the after-game press conference seemed significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that implication to remain unanswered, responding: “I have a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he knows what he is implying.” A Starting Point of Resistance Crucially 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 defended him. Part of it may have been theatrical, done out of professionalism or mutual survival, but in this context, it was important. The effort with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a temptation of the most basic of standards somehow being elevated as a form of success. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a vision, that their shortcomings were not his responsibility. “I think my teammate Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The only way is [for] the players to change the attitude. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have witnessed a difference.” Jude Bellingham, questioned if they were supporting the coach, also answered with a figure: “100%.” “We are continuing trying to work it out in the dressing room,” he said. “We know that the [outside] speculation will not be beneficial so it is about trying to fix it in there.” “I think the manager has been superb. I individually have a great relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the run of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations internally.” “All things ends in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps speaking as much about adversity as everything.
No forward in Real Madrid’s annals had gone without a goal for as long as Rodrygo, but finally he was unleashed and he had a declaration to deliver, acted out for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and ran towards the bench to greet Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could prove an even greater liberation. “It’s a difficult period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Performances aren’t coming off and I sought to show everyone that we are united with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the lead had been lost, a defeat ensuing. City had turned it around, taking 2-1 ahead with “very little”, Alonso remarked. That can happen when you’re in a “fragile” state, he added, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not engineer a turnaround. Endrick, brought on having played very little all season, rattled the bar in the closing stages. A Delayed Verdict “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo conceded. The issue was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to hold onto his position. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was perceived internally. “We have shown that we’re behind the coach: we have played well, offered 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the axe was withheld, any action pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A More Credible Kind of Loss Madrid had been overcome at home for the second time in four days, extending their recent run to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this felt a somewhat distinct. This was the Premier League champions, rather than a La Liga opponent. Streamlined, they had actually run, the easiest and most harsh criticism not directed at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a spot-kick, 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, tonight. The Bernabéu's Muted Reaction That was not entirely the full story. There were moments in the closing 45 minutes, as frustration grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At the conclusion, a section of supporters had continued, although there was in addition some applause. But mostly, there was a muted flow to the subway. “We understand that, we accept it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso added: “This is nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were instances when they cheered too.” Squad Backing Is Strong “I feel the confidence of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he stood by them, they backed him too, at least in front of the cameras. There has been a unification, talks: the coach had accommodated them, arguably more than they had embraced him, meeting a point not precisely in the middle. Whether durable a remedy that is continues to be an open question. One small moment in the after-game press conference seemed significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that implication to remain unanswered, responding: “I have a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he knows what he is implying.” A Starting Point of Resistance Crucially 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 defended him. Part of it may have been theatrical, done out of professionalism or mutual survival, but in this context, it was important. The effort with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a temptation of the most basic of standards somehow being elevated as a form of success. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a vision, that their shortcomings were not his responsibility. “I think my teammate Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The only way is [for] the players to change the attitude. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have witnessed a difference.” Jude Bellingham, questioned if they were supporting the coach, also answered with a figure: “100%.” “We are continuing trying to work it out in the dressing room,” he said. “We know that the [outside] speculation will not be beneficial so it is about trying to fix it in there.” “I think the manager has been superb. I individually have a great relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the run of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations internally.” “All things ends in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps speaking as much about adversity as everything.