On Sunday, Real Madrid won 2-1 against FC Barcelona in the Clasico. However, leafing through the Spanish press in recent days, we mainly talk about the crisis brewing within Casa Blanca. The big anger of Vinicius Junior during his substitution against Barça was the trigger. Since then, tongues have been loosening. Yesterday, Globo Esporte revealed that the new Merengue coach and his staff have already alienated several players on the squad. In addition to Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Fede Valverde, Endrick and even Antonio Rüdiger, who complained about the management of the team to one of the assistants, are cited. Information confirmed this Wednesday on the other side of the Pyrenees, where we recognize that the 43-year-old technician is not unanimous.
During the night, Marcos Benito, journalist for El Chiringuitosaid on this subject: “There are Real Madrid players who don't like certain things about Xabi. I'm told that there are things that Xabi does that I don't like. But as long as he wins, people will be with him. Xabi's personality is different from Zidane's, Ancelotti's, he's a very cold guy. He has ways of asking things that not everyone likes.” This is in line with what was revealed yesterday by GEwho indicated that the new staff is distant with the players, who are asked to provide more effort defensively. New competition has also been introduced. Indeed, practically no player is untouchable anymore, apart from Kylian Mbappé and Thibaut Courtois.
The group’s “bad habits” under Ancelotti
This Wednesday, The Athletic publishes new information on “the revolution of Xabi Alonso which caused an early break with the big stars of Real Madrid”. Thus, the English media explains that Xabi Alonso and his staff put pressure on themselves before the Clasico, always having in mind the defeat in the derby against Atlético. They were very happy with this success, which was also a great victory regarding the relationship with the players. It has been revealed that tensions have increased in recent weeks between the coach and certain Madrid players, including several starters unhappy with his way of managing the group and the new rules he has put in place. But for the 43-year-old coach, it was necessary.
As soon as he took office, he noticed that the locker room had “bad habits” with Carlo Ancelotti as explained by a close friend of his staff. He felt that this was not good for his team and so he quickly let the players know at the Club World Cup that “Everyone should run and work harder when the opponent had the ball, and without that no one would be guaranteed a place.” After the elimination during the tournament, Xabi Alonso and his staff organized a meeting with the captains and captains of the team in order to unveil and validate the new internal rules of the locker room, which were then communicated to the whole group. The watchword is: discipline.
A new strict regulation
Among the rules put in place by the coach, who wants to have more control over the daily life of his group compared to Ancelotti, particular attention was drawn to punctuality. This point is well respected for the moment since no player has been sanctioned. In addition, the new staff demanded intensity and involvement in training, during which the players worked more in the gym and had more video sessions, whether collectively or individually. He also asked that team compositions no longer be leaked before meetings. He had also tested his players against Al-Hilal during the Club World Cup. But his eleven was out before the match. Since this incident, this is no longer the case.
Xabi Alonso also wanted to clean up around his locker room and the training center. Places that were too accessible by members of the club or the players' entourage (family, friends, agents). From now on, they are sacred places where only essential members of the staff and the club are authorized to access them. The idea is also to protect your group and avoid leaks to the press. But this revolution, which is also not exceptional and which even seems “normal”, is not to the taste of several players, who did not welcome these changes. The Athleticwho spoke with Madrilenians or their entourage, explains that certain elements feel “devalued, dissatisfied and frustrated”.
A revolution that frustrates some bosses
They believe they have less freedom than before on the pitch under the orders of Xabi Alonso. A technician who is demanding and rigorous, but also “inaccessible” according to some of its players. Which changes from Carlo Ancelotti, who was very appreciated in the locker room and who granted a lot of freedom and confidence to his troops. The players have perhaps become a little too accustomed to this comfort and have rested on their laurels and their achievements. “Some of them gained so much without ever using these methods that when it was imposed on them, they complained. It's no secret that some cases have been made public. This is normal, especially from those who were untouchable”admitted a close source to the English media.
Another source at the club confided that Real Madrid are “went from a coach who was not very involved in training sessions to a coach who seemed to be a player like any other”. A third concluded: “He thinks he’s Pep Guardiola, but for now, he’s just Xabi.” Xabi Alonso, who was able to make room for young people from the club or less used players, also has support in the club and in his group. He is totally aware that he cannot please everyone and that his revolution will take some time to be understood and adopted by everyone. But the Spaniard is very motivated, he who wants to bring Madrid back to the top.
