🔗 Share this article Manager Alonso Treading a Precarious Line at the Bernabéu Despite Player Backing. No attacker in Los Blancos' history had gone failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but eventually he was freed and he had a statement to deliver, performed for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was commencing only his fifth match this campaign, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Manchester City. Then he turned and sprinted towards the touchline to hug Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could represent an profound release. “It’s a tough period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Performances aren't working out and I wanted to demonstrate people that we are as one with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been taken from them, a setback following. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso noted. That can occur when you’re in a “fragile” state, he continued, but at least Madrid had reacted. Ultimately, they could not engineer a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played very little all season, rattled the crossbar in the closing stages. A Reserved Judgment “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be enough for Alonso to hold onto his role. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was perceived internally. “We have shown that we’re behind the manager: we have played well, provided 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the axe was postponed, consequences pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A Distinct Kind of Setback Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their uninspiring streak to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this felt a somewhat distinct. This was the Premier League champions, rather than a domestic opponent. Streamlined, they had actually run, the simplest and most harsh accusation not aimed at them on this night. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a spot-kick, almost securing something at the death. There were “numerous of very good things” about this showing, the manager said, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, not this time. The Fans' Muted Response That was not always the complete picture. There were spells in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the conclusion, a portion of supporters had repeated that, although there was also some applause. But primarily, there was a muted procession to the subway. “We understand that, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso stated: “There's nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they cheered too.” Squad Unity Stands Evident “I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso said. And if he supported them, they supported him too, at least for the media. There has been a rapprochement, conversations: the coach had accommodated them, maybe more than they had embraced him, reaching a point not precisely in the center. Whether durable a fix that is remains an matter of debate. One small moment in the after-game press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s advice to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that idea to linger, replying: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.” A Starting Point of Resistance Crucially though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a response. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they publicly backed him. Some of this may have been performative, done out of duty or self-preservation, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The intensity with which they played had been too – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of requirements somehow being promoted as a type of achievement. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a strategy, that their failings were not his doing. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The sole solution is [for] the players to improve the approach. The attitude is the key thing and today we have witnessed a shift.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also responded in numbers: “100%.” “We are continuing striving to solve it in the locker room,” he said. “We know that the [outside] noise will not be beneficial so it is about attempting to sort it out in there.” “In my opinion the coach has been great. I personally have a great relationship with him,” Bellingham stated. “After the run of games where we were held a few, we had some very productive conversations internally.” “Everything concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, possibly speaking as much about adversity as everything.
No attacker in Los Blancos' history had gone failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but eventually he was freed and he had a statement to deliver, performed for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was commencing only his fifth match this campaign, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Manchester City. Then he turned and sprinted towards the touchline to hug Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could represent an profound release. “It’s a tough period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Performances aren't working out and I wanted to demonstrate people that we are as one with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been taken from them, a setback following. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso noted. That can occur when you’re in a “fragile” state, he continued, but at least Madrid had reacted. Ultimately, they could not engineer a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played very little all season, rattled the crossbar in the closing stages. A Reserved Judgment “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be enough for Alonso to hold onto his role. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was perceived internally. “We have shown that we’re behind the manager: we have played well, provided 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the axe was postponed, consequences pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A Distinct Kind of Setback Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their uninspiring streak to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this felt a somewhat distinct. This was the Premier League champions, rather than a domestic opponent. Streamlined, they had actually run, the simplest and most harsh accusation not aimed at them on this night. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a spot-kick, almost securing something at the death. There were “numerous of very good things” about this showing, the manager said, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, not this time. The Fans' Muted Response That was not always the complete picture. There were spells in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the conclusion, a portion of supporters had repeated that, although there was also some applause. But primarily, there was a muted procession to the subway. “We understand that, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso stated: “There's nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they cheered too.” Squad Unity Stands Evident “I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso said. And if he supported them, they supported him too, at least for the media. There has been a rapprochement, conversations: the coach had accommodated them, maybe more than they had embraced him, reaching a point not precisely in the center. Whether durable a fix that is remains an matter of debate. One small moment in the after-game press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s advice to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that idea to linger, replying: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.” A Starting Point of Resistance Crucially though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a response. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they publicly backed him. Some of this may have been performative, done out of duty or self-preservation, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The intensity with which they played had been too – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of requirements somehow being promoted as a type of achievement. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a strategy, that their failings were not his doing. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The sole solution is [for] the players to improve the approach. The attitude is the key thing and today we have witnessed a shift.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also responded in numbers: “100%.” “We are continuing striving to solve it in the locker room,” he said. “We know that the [outside] noise will not be beneficial so it is about attempting to sort it out in there.” “In my opinion the coach has been great. I personally have a great relationship with him,” Bellingham stated. “After the run of games where we were held a few, we had some very productive conversations internally.” “Everything concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, possibly speaking as much about adversity as everything.