The 2024/2025 season was not yet over when Real Madrid fans were already looking forward to the idea of seeing Xabi Alonso succeed Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian has been praised for everything he has brought to Casa Blanca (including three Champions Leagues in 2014, 2022 and 2024), but the Whites needed a change. Above all, they wanted a new strong man capable of shaking up the Madrid locker room. And that’s what Alonso has been trying to do since taking charge of the team before the Club World Cup kicked off last June. With the former midfielder, the cards have clearly been redistributed.
Kylian Mbappé became the undisputed leader, Arda Güler was permanently installed in the midfield, while the Brazilians Vinicius Junior and especially Endrick were clearly heckled. The first saw his status as an indisputable starter called into question by the coach’s choice to put Rodrygo in his hands. As for the second, it has still not been used and a departure to Lyon in the form of a loan without purchase option is taking shape. Finally, even Rodrygo would like to slam the door this winter. On paper, the Xabi Alonso version of Real Madrid is not the most exciting, but it responds. In La Liga, Mbappé’s partners are first in the standings with 10 wins, 1 draw and only 1 defeat and finally won the Clasico after the four defeats last season. In the Champions League, again the record is rather good. The Merengues have 3 wins and 1 loss in 4 matches and are in seventh place in the standings.
See you on December 10
However, Xabi Alonso is far from unanimous in his locker room. If the local press assures that Florentino Pérez supports his coach 100%, it also explains that several Madrid stars are starting to have enough of their coach. Alonso is accused of wanting to manage everything, of organizing video sessions that are too long and of poorly managing his stars. His altercation with Vinicius Jr during the Clasico is the perfect example. And that’s not all since five elements (Andriy Lunin, Gonzalo Garcia, Fran Garcia, Endrick and Dani Ceballos) would be disappointed with their coach. Which is not really surprising since all of them are replacements. If some believe that Alonso must above all manage the whims of stars unhappy at being shaken up in their comfort, a detail has nevertheless been highlighted twice this season.
Apart from the Clasico, every time Real Madrid had to face a big obstacle, they failed, in a big way. We think of the derby against Atlético (2-5) and the clash against Liverpool in C1 (0-2). The first hiccup was blamed on Xabi Alonso for his coaching choices, while the defeat at Anfield above all gave the impression of a bland team, incapable of finding the solution except through an exploit from Mbappé. Would this Real Madrid be strong against the weak and weak against the strong? StillEl Chiringuito dropped a little bomb last night. One of the speakers assured that Casa Blanca’s patience with Xabi Alonso would have its limits. Clearly, Alonso’s credit would be seriously damaged and he would have until the Champions League match against Manchester City to reverse the trend (six matches against Elche, Olympiacos, Girona, Athletic, Celta and Manchester City). “Very little patience. Senior leaders are beginning to doubt this situation. Xabi Alonso has credit until the match against Manchester City on December 10. There will be no patience. » Information which is a little surprising all the same, but which puts Xabi Alonso under more pressure than ever.
