Two games without a win, internal tensions coming to light, and a coach in the hot seat. The situation at Real Madrid suddenly became tense for Xabi Alonso, weakened by poor performances and, according to the Spanish press, by a revolt led by several executives such as Fede Valverde or Vinícius Júnior. In the midst of this agitation, one player stands out for his implicit but total support for the Basque technician: Kylian Mbappé. And for good reason, the Frenchman has never been as strong as under his orders.
Mbappé’s success, the best argument to save Alonso
With 18 goals in 16 matches in all competitions, Kylian Mbappé is quite simply having the best start to the season of his career. Responsible for more than half of his team’s goals, he is the undisputed offensive leader of Real. But this success is not the result of chance. It is the direct result of the tactical revolution imposed by Xabi Alonso. Where his predecessor criticized him for a lack of defensive involvement, Alonso managed to transform him into a complete attacker, involved in intense and structured pressing. A requirement that the player fully accepted: “I do what the boss asks me to do”
he confided recently.
This support is all the more striking as it contrasts with the attitude of other stars in the squad. While Vinícius is annoyed by his replacements and Valverde contests his repositioning, Mbappé enjoys untouchable status. Xabi Alonso is full of praise for him and has built his offensive system to maximize his qualities, giving him freedom of movement he has never had. This mutual trust and central role places him in a radically different position from his disgruntled teammates.
Crisis at Real Madrid: Mbappé, Xabi Alonso’s last bastion
The strategic interest of stability
By supporting his coach, Mbappé is not only defending a man; it protects the system that allows it to shine. He is aware that any change of coach could call into question the tactical balance which favors his expression. The team’s dependence on its goals is such that a drop in its performance, following a new playing philosophy, would plunge the club into an even deeper crisis. The example of Ousmane Dembélé, transformed by Luis Enrique at PSG until winning the Ballon d’Or, is a model that Mbappé could be tempted to follow.
Publicly, Kylian Mbappé remains discreet about the tensions agitating the Madrid locker room. But behind the scenes, his influence is immense. By his exemplarity on the field and his exceptional performance, he is the best argument in favor of maintaining Xabi Alonso. While the international break offers the club a respite, the question is whether the Bondynois will use his weight to calm tempers and rally his teammates to the cause of a coach on whom his own success depends.
