Real Madrid: Xabi Alonso’s Deep Decline – His Job Hangs by a Thread
Zum Schluss des ersten Akts in Saudi-Arabien verkündete Xabi alonso eine Botschaft des Optimismus. Der angeschlagene Kylian Mbappé werde am Freitag ins Flugzeug steigen und zur Mannschaft von Real Madrid stoßen. „Damit werden wir ein anderes Spiel sehen”, so der Trainer im Hinblick auf das Finale des spanischen Supercups an diesem Sonntag in Dschidda gegen den alten Rivalen FC Barcelona.
Die Partie vom Donnerstag sollte sein Team in der Tat besser nicht wiederholen. Im Halbfinale gegen Atlético Madrid siegte Real 2:1, ohne wirklich zu wissen, warum. „Sie hatten viel mehr Chancen,
real Madrid’s crisis is deepening, and Xabi Alonso is under increasing pressure. Despite the star-studded squad, including Kylian Mbappé, the team frequently enough appears lacking in drive and identity. Statistics show that Real loses more often with Mbappé (21 percent of games) than without him (eight percent). He was also on the field for many of the lackluster performances that exacerbated the crisis and brought Xabi Alonso to the brink of dismissal.
Every game for Real Madrid could be Xabi Alonso’s last
The double-winning coach from Bayer Leverkusen,celebrated in Germany,has so far fallen short of all expectations at the world’s most triumphant and revenue-generating club.While the results were initially acceptable, a bleak late autumn pushed the Madrid team four points behind Barcelona in the league. As then, every match has been viewed as potentially Alonso’s last. The press calls him a “survival artist” who has “deflected the next match point.” “His position hangs by a barely visible thread,” writes “El Mundo” before the “final judgment,” which could take place in Arabia.
Alonso’s main problem is the impression his team conveys. Rather of the promised revitalization, it appears even less aspiring than in the final season of veteran Carlo Ancelotti. Like his predecessor, Alonso primarily suffers from a skewed squad structure. For years, Real has been buying players based on names rather than needs. mbappé, who prefers the same areas as established hero Vinícius Júnior, is the most prominent example. The club has also failed to compensate for its most significant departure: since the retirement of strategist toni Kroos in 2024, the royal club has lacked direction, and the departure of Luka Modric a summer later has only widened the gap.
Alonso has so far been unable to find successors to shape the midfield game.He has also been unable to find his own signature style. His explanations appear pale and standardized. in Jeddah, he surprised observers when he defended Vinícius against repeated trash talk from Atlético coach Diego Simeone: ”Not everything goes – what happens on the pitch must have limits.” Such clear statements were not expected from a coach who…
Xabi Alonso’s Authority Tested at Real Madrid
A sense of unease is growing at Real Madrid,despite the team’s strong position. Reports indicate a decline in enthusiasm for reform, with complaints surfacing early in the season regarding excessive video review sessions - sessions players claim weren’t necessary even during previous Champions League-winning campaigns. Players like Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham have reportedly begun questioning their assigned roles.
The tension escalated following a 2-1 league victory over Barcelona. While seen as a significant statement after four consecutive clásico losses under Carlo Ancelotti, the win was overshadowed by Vinícius Júnior’s outburst upon being substituted, and a notably insincere apology from the Brazilian three days later. Vinícius apologized to teammates, the president, the club, and fans, but notably omitted the manager from his list.
Vinícius Júnior, a supremely talented but unpredictable player, presents a challenge for any coach focused on structure. Numerous instances have been observed of Alonso attempting to motivate Vinícius from the sideline to press more consistently or contribute defensively. During a recent match against Atlético, Vinícius was even seen standing still at times, allowing an opponent to deliver a cross unchallenged. A visibly frustrated Alonso turned to his bench.
Currently, Vinícius is also struggling to perform his primary role effectively. He hasn’t scored in 16 matches, and has recently been booed by fans at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, with many calling for him to be rested. Ironically, after initially attempting to discipline Vinícius with occasional benchings – potentially contributing to his insecurity – Alonso is now steadfastly protecting him. This demonstrates a clear power dynamic within the team.
Sources say that when Alonso initially tried to assert his authority, club president Florentino Pérez intervened, stating that Vinícius is “club patrimony.” Pérez emphasized Vinícius’s contributions to two Champions League titles and the club’s consistent defense of him, even canceling his appearance at the Ballon d’Or gala in 2024 due to perceived injustice over his second-place finish. Pérez’s message was clear: a Real Madrid manager shouldn’t initiate conflicts they are unlikely to win.
The history of Real Madrid suggests that ambitious managers rarely enjoy long tenures. As former captain Sergio Ramos once said when opposing the appointment of Antonio Conte, “You all know which managers we’ve had success with.” Real Madrid is a club of stars, not directors; of heroes on the pitch, not on the bench. The club’s eight Champions League titles this century were won by coaches like Vicente del Bosque, Zinédine Zidane, and Carlo Ancelotti, all known more for their man-management skills than tactical innovation.
jupp Heynckes,who won a European trophy in 1998,was perhaps the last manager to initially attempt to impose his concepts. He succeeded by ultimately abandoning those concepts and allowing the players to dictate play. While this approach wasn’t successful in the league, it proved sufficient for European nights, and he was dismissed at the end of his single season.
twenty-eight years later, a similar scenario appears distant – and may be the best outcome currently imaginable for Xabi Alonso.