Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is clinging to his job by a thread after a damaging 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League, despite a public show of support from star man Jude Bellingham.
The Bernabeu turned toxic on Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona past jeered before kick off, only for the 2,500 travelling City fans to taunt the hosts at the final whistle with chants of “We’ve got Guardiola.” For Alonso, the music was pumped up loud at full time, a move many saw as a ploy to drown out any boos. Asked post match if he’d spoken to chairman Florentino Perez, Alonso tersely replied: “I came straight here.”
On the pitch, it was a familiar story of collapse. Rodrygo’s early drilled effort had Real in front and flying, but they conceded twice in the final ten minutes of the first half Nico O’Reilly poking home and Erling Haaland converting a penalty. The famous Ultras behind the goal fell silent. There was a period in the second half where the crowd whistled their displeasure three times in six minutes, a clear message to the players to give more. They pushed, but it weren’t enough.
“The performance has been intense. A professional Champions League level game. They have given their best, so from my side no complaints,” said Alonso, putting on a brave face. But the stats are damning. This was a third loss in eight games, with just two wins in that sequence. Since a blistering start of 13 wins in 14, Alonso’s side have collapsed after a November defeat at Liverpool. Reports of a culture clash persist, with players said to be struggling with his strict methods and pressing demands.
In the dressing room, they’re publicly backing him. Jude Bellingham told TNT Sport the squad were “100%” behind the gaffer. “No one’s downing tools, no one’s complaining and moaning thinking the season is over,” insisted the England star. But the boardroom is a different matter. Directors talked long into the night after Sunday’s loss to Celta Vigo, and another defeat at Alaves this weekend could finally spell the end. Spanish journalist Juan Castro was bleak, telling BBC 5 Live: “I am 100% pessimistic… I don’t think Perez wants this kind of manager.”
The broader picture is grim. Real are now four points adrift of Barcelona in La Liga and only scraping into the Champions League knockout places on goal difference. Since winning the trophy two years ago, they’ve lost five group games. Alonso seems to be living game to game, and with Perez’s legendary intolerance for failure, the stay of execution might be measured in days, not weeks. The search for a replacement in December won’t be easy, but at the Bernabeu, the result is the only thing that matters. And right now, Alonso ain’t getting them.
