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After Real Madrid’s loss to Manchester City, questions over Xabi Alonso’s future at the club have resurfaced. Reports in the Spanish press have suggested that a defeat against City could be the breaking point for the manager, whose team has been inconsistent over the last month, recording just two wins and three defeats in their last eight matches. At a club like Real Madrid, patience for coaches is notoriously thin, but Alonso is no ordinary manager—he comes with a proven track record as both a player and coach.
Yet, it is a baffling situation. Losing to Manchester City does not immediately threaten Madrid’s position in the Champions League or La Liga. In the Champions League, the team still has games against Monaco and Jose Mourinho’s Benfica and is poised to secure a top-eight spot. In La Liga, despite being four points behind Barcelona, Alonso has already beaten the Catalans once this season, and the team has accumulated nine points from the last 18 possible, with scoring slightly underperforming relative to expected goals (xG). With a bit more finishing efficiency or full fitness from key players like Kylian Mbappé, the table could look very different.
Wednesday’s performance against City was not catastrophic. While Madrid conceded over 2.5 xG, most of that came in a brief, unusual 10-minute period of the first half due to errors by Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rüdiger. Individual mistakes like these do not necessarily justify a managerial change. One could easily imagine the outcome being different if Brahim Díaz had connected on a header or if Vinicius Junior’s bicycle kick had been more precise.
Alonso has demonstrated strong tactical acumen. Last season, Madrid averaged 1.76 non-penalty expected goals (npxG) while conceding 1.17. This season, those numbers have improved to 1.99 and 1.11 respectively, showing incremental progress. The team is performing well even without key contributors, and Alonso’s methodical approach is gradually guiding the squad toward efficiency and organization.
However, Real Madrid is as much about managing the dressing room as it is about tactics. Thierry Henry highlighted this on UEFA Champions League Today, noting that “You have a guy there who is coaching a bit too much and not managing enough.” Alonso’s first managerial stint at Bayer Leverkusen was marked by meticulous defensive focus, surprising a young squad used to more free-flowing, attacking philosophies. At Madrid, some players, including Vinicius Junior, are still adapting to Alonso’s demanding approach, which contrasts with the laissez-faire styles of Zidane and Ancelotti.
Despite this, not all relationships are strained. Rodrygo defended Alonso after the Celta Vigo defeat, stating, “We are with Xabi Alonso. We need this unity to move forward.” Jude Bellingham and Raul Asencio have expressed similar support. These endorsements indicate that Alonso’s structured, disciplined style has earned respect, even if it has initially caused friction with certain players.
Alonso’s legacy as a manager combines tactical intelligence and motivational skills. His time at Leverkusen saw him instill a deep belief in his squad, making them confident and disciplined. If he can translate that approach to Madrid, the team could maintain a high level of performance.
If the club decides to part ways with him, it would signal a preference for a manager focused more on presence and morale than on strategic planning. Essentially, Madrid would be replacing a tactician capable of elevating the team’s performance with someone better suited to media duties, pre-match appearances, and maintaining locker room vibes.
For now, Alonso’s future remains uncertain, but the evidence suggests that his methods, relationships with key players, and tactical expertise are far from failing. Whether Florentino Pérez decides that is enough, however, remains to be seen.
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