Real Madrid’s recent performances have raised questions about Xabi Alonso’s management style and its impact on the team’s cohesion. Since the NFL fixture at Santiago Bernabeu on November 16, the club has been contending with three consecutive away games. They saw this streak ended with a dire goalless draw at home to Girona, a side languishing in the La Liga relegation zone. As a consequence of this result, Real Madrid lost their grip at the top of the league to their rivals Barcelona, who now lead by a point.
Their last league win was a 4-0 drubbing of Valencia at home on November 1. Since then, Real Madrid have fallen apart, drawing three league games in succession. This includes an infuriating 0-0 deadlock at home against Rayo Vallecano and an anxiety-ridden 2-2 home draw against Elche. Alonso’s tactics have reportedly caused friction among several key players, igniting concerns about the team’s direction under his leadership.
Early Rifts and Player Concerns
Alonso was named manager in the middle of this season. Yet, just as quickly, he’s coming under increasing pressure as leaked reports of unrest in his squad start to appear. Some players have expressed doubts about Alonso’s methods, while others believe that the manager should not bear the brunt of the blame for the team’s recent struggles.
Dozens of meetings have been held between Alonso and top players in a failed attempt to repair the quickly widening rift. In the depths of this chaos, one former insider planted his flag in opposition. They said, “The issue isn’t Xabi Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham are mutually exclusive, you cannot have a balanced team with those three.”
This quote underscores just how difficult it is for Alonso to combine his best players into a functioning group. The Brazilian striker has had a hard time of late, currently amidst a goal drought, dating back 30 matches without scoring. This leaves him tied for the worst scoring record for any Real Madrid striker, alongside Mariano Diaz.
Tactical Decisions and Player Performances
Yet in trying to rectify the team’s predicament, Alonso shook things up with a brave call by starting Antonio Rudiger against Girona. Rudiger has not played since Sept. 12. He is currently rehabbing after a rectus femoris muscle strain in his left thigh. Initially, Alonso was looking at a slow reintegration for Rudiger. Eventually, he overruled himself and moved him into the starting lineup.
Kylian Mbappe emerged as a key player during Real Madrid’s recent Champions League matchup against Olympiacos, scoring the only goal from the penalty spot. With this most recent outing, Mbappe is now responsible for 23 of his new club, Real Madrid’s 41 goals in all competitions this season. He won personally, but lost in the big picture. The continued failure is causing the widespread mutiny in the club.
On performances, Xabi Alonso quipped that “It’s a long season and we have to keep going.” His words reveal a deep awareness of the trials yet to come, and the steadiness that will be required.
Moving Forward Under Pressure
Shockingly, Real Madrid is having a crisis on the field. Now, the onus is increasingly on Alonso to find answers that will restore team chemistry and result in better production — both on and off the field. It’s time for the USA’s talent up top to be given time and space. Simultaneously, they need to reinforce the defensive holes that have come up in the last few games.
The club has already celebrated a phenomenal Champions League victory, including a heroic defeat of Olympiacos. Their inability to translate a strong cup run into sustainable league performance has left them, unfortunately, exposed to their competitors. The weeks to come will be pivotal for both Alonso and Real Madrid. Undoubtedly, they are keen to get back to La Liga.
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