🔗 Share this article Xabi Alonso Navigating a Precarious Tightrope at the Bernabéu Despite Squad Backing. No offensive player in the club's history had experienced failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but at last he was released and he had a declaration to send, acted out for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had been goalless in an extended drought and was starting only his fifth appearance this season, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the opening goal against the English champions. Then he wheeled and charged towards the sideline to hug Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could represent an even greater liberation. “It’s a difficult time for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Results aren't working out and I sought to demonstrate people that we are united with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo spoke, the lead had been taken from them, a setback ensuing. City had turned it around, taking 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “fragile” state, he added, but at least Madrid had responded. Ultimately, they could not pull off a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played very little all season, hit the crossbar in the final seconds. A Delayed Sentence “It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo said. The dilemma was whether it would be enough for Alonso to retain his job. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We have shown that we’re behind the manager: we have given a good account, provided 100%,” Courtois added. And so the axe was postponed, any action delayed, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A Distinct Kind of Defeat Madrid had been beaten at home for the second occasion in four days, perpetuating their poor form to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this was a little different. This was the Premier League champions, as opposed to a domestic opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the easiest and most critical accusation not levelled at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a penalty, almost salvaging something at the death. There were “numerous of very good things” about this display, the boss said, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, not this time. The Stadium's Muted Reception That was not entirely the complete picture. There were periods in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At the conclusion, a portion of supporters had done so again, although there was in addition sporadic clapping. But primarily, there was a muted flow to the subway. “We understand that, we accept it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “This is nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were moments when they applauded too.” Dressing Room Backing Stands Evident “I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso said. And if he stood by them, they supported him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a rapprochement, discussions: the coach had considered them, perhaps more than they had accommodated him, finding common ground not quite in the middle. Whether durable a solution that is remains an matter of debate. One small incident in the after-game press conference seemed significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had permitted that implication to hang there, answering: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he understands what he is talking about.” A Basis of Reaction Most importantly though, he could be content that there was a resistance, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they defended him. Part of it may have been for show, done out of duty or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was important. The effort with which they played had been as well – even if there is a risk of the most fundamental of standards somehow being promoted as a type of positive. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had insisted the coach had a strategy, that their shortcomings were not his doing. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The only way is [for] the players to change the approach. The attitude is the linchpin and today we have observed a difference.” Jude Bellingham, questioned if they were behind the coach, also answered quantitatively: “100%.” “We’re still trying to solve it in the dressing room,” he elaborated. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be beneficial so it is about striving to sort it out in there.” “Personally, I feel the manager has been excellent. I personally have a strong relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the run of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations among ourselves.” “All things concludes in the end,” Alonso philosophized, possibly referring as much about adversity as anything else.
No offensive player in the club's history had experienced failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but at last he was released and he had a declaration to send, acted out for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had been goalless in an extended drought and was starting only his fifth appearance this season, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the opening goal against the English champions. Then he wheeled and charged towards the sideline to hug Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could represent an even greater liberation. “It’s a difficult time for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Results aren't working out and I sought to demonstrate people that we are united with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo spoke, the lead had been taken from them, a setback ensuing. City had turned it around, taking 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “fragile” state, he added, but at least Madrid had responded. Ultimately, they could not pull off a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played very little all season, hit the crossbar in the final seconds. A Delayed Sentence “It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo said. The dilemma was whether it would be enough for Alonso to retain his job. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We have shown that we’re behind the manager: we have given a good account, provided 100%,” Courtois added. And so the axe was postponed, any action delayed, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A Distinct Kind of Defeat Madrid had been beaten at home for the second occasion in four days, perpetuating their poor form to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this was a little different. This was the Premier League champions, as opposed to a domestic opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the easiest and most critical accusation not levelled at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a penalty, almost salvaging something at the death. There were “numerous of very good things” about this display, the boss said, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, not this time. The Stadium's Muted Reception That was not entirely the complete picture. There were periods in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At the conclusion, a portion of supporters had done so again, although there was in addition sporadic clapping. But primarily, there was a muted flow to the subway. “We understand that, we accept it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “This is nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were moments when they applauded too.” Dressing Room Backing Stands Evident “I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso said. And if he stood by them, they supported him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a rapprochement, discussions: the coach had considered them, perhaps more than they had accommodated him, finding common ground not quite in the middle. Whether durable a solution that is remains an matter of debate. One small incident in the after-game press conference seemed significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had permitted that implication to hang there, answering: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he understands what he is talking about.” A Basis of Reaction Most importantly though, he could be content that there was a resistance, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they defended him. Part of it may have been for show, done out of duty or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was important. The effort with which they played had been as well – even if there is a risk of the most fundamental of standards somehow being promoted as a type of positive. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had insisted the coach had a strategy, that their shortcomings were not his doing. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The only way is [for] the players to change the approach. The attitude is the linchpin and today we have observed a difference.” Jude Bellingham, questioned if they were behind the coach, also answered quantitatively: “100%.” “We’re still trying to solve it in the dressing room,” he elaborated. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be beneficial so it is about striving to sort it out in there.” “Personally, I feel the manager has been excellent. I personally have a strong relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the run of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations among ourselves.” “All things concludes in the end,” Alonso philosophized, possibly referring as much about adversity as anything else.