🔗 Share this article Alonso Treading a Thin Tightrope at Madrid Despite Player Endorsement. No forward in Los Blancos' annals had endured failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but finally he was freed and he had a declaration to deliver, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in nine months and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the opening goal against Pep Guardiola's side. Then he turned and charged towards the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could represent an more significant liberation. “It’s a difficult period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Performances aren't working out and I sought to demonstrate people that we are together with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the lead had been taken from them, a defeat ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “sensitive” situation, he continued, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, on as a substitute having played a handful of minutes all season, rattled the bar in the dying moments. A Reserved Sentence “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his job. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We demonstrated that we’re supporting the coach: we have performed creditably, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so the final decision was postponed, sentencing delayed, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon. A More Credible Type of Defeat Madrid had been beaten at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their poor form to just two victories in eight, but this was a somewhat distinct. This was a European powerhouse, not a lesser opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the most obvious and most damning criticism not aimed at them this time. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a converted penalty, coming close to securing something at the death. There were “many of very good things” about this display, the manager said, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, tonight. The Fans' Ambivalent Response That was not always the full story. There were moments in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At full time, some of supporters had continued, although there was likewise sporadic clapping. But primarily, there was a muted procession to the doors. “It's to be expected, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso stated: “It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were moments when they applauded too.” Squad Unity Remains Firm “I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he supported them, they supported him too, at least towards the public. There has been a unification, conversations: the coach had considered them, perhaps more than they had embraced him, meeting somewhere not exactly in the middle. Whether durable a solution that is remains an open question. One small incident in the post-match press conference appeared notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to stick to his principles, Alonso had let that implication to linger, replying: “I have a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.” A Basis of Fight Most importantly though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a response. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they stood up for him. This support may have been theatrical, done out of obligation or mutual survival, but in this climate, it was meaningful. The commitment with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a temptation of the most basic of standards somehow being promoted as a type of achievement. The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a plan, that their shortcomings were not his fault. “I believe my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The sole solution is [for] the players to alter the approach. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a shift.” Jude Bellingham, asked if they were supporting the coach, also answered quantitatively: “100%.” “We’re still trying to work it out in the dressing room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] chatter will not be helpful so it is about striving to sort it out in there.” “In my opinion the manager has been superb. I myself have a great rapport with him,” Bellingham stated. “After the run of games where we were held a few, we had some really great conversations among ourselves.” “Every situation concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps referring as much about a difficult spell as his own predicament.
No forward in Los Blancos' annals had endured failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but finally he was freed and he had a declaration to deliver, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in nine months and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the opening goal against Pep Guardiola's side. Then he turned and charged towards the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could represent an more significant liberation. “It’s a difficult period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Performances aren't working out and I sought to demonstrate people that we are together with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the lead had been taken from them, a defeat ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “sensitive” situation, he continued, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, on as a substitute having played a handful of minutes all season, rattled the bar in the dying moments. A Reserved Sentence “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his job. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We demonstrated that we’re supporting the coach: we have performed creditably, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so the final decision was postponed, sentencing delayed, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon. A More Credible Type of Defeat Madrid had been beaten at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their poor form to just two victories in eight, but this was a somewhat distinct. This was a European powerhouse, not a lesser opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the most obvious and most damning criticism not aimed at them this time. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a converted penalty, coming close to securing something at the death. There were “many of very good things” about this display, the manager said, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, tonight. The Fans' Ambivalent Response That was not always the full story. There were moments in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At full time, some of supporters had continued, although there was likewise sporadic clapping. But primarily, there was a muted procession to the doors. “It's to be expected, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso stated: “It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were moments when they applauded too.” Squad Unity Remains Firm “I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he supported them, they supported him too, at least towards the public. There has been a unification, conversations: the coach had considered them, perhaps more than they had embraced him, meeting somewhere not exactly in the middle. Whether durable a solution that is remains an open question. One small incident in the post-match press conference appeared notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to stick to his principles, Alonso had let that implication to linger, replying: “I have a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.” A Basis of Fight Most importantly though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a response. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they stood up for him. This support may have been theatrical, done out of obligation or mutual survival, but in this climate, it was meaningful. The commitment with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a temptation of the most basic of standards somehow being promoted as a type of achievement. The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a plan, that their shortcomings were not his fault. “I believe my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The sole solution is [for] the players to alter the approach. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a shift.” Jude Bellingham, asked if they were supporting the coach, also answered quantitatively: “100%.” “We’re still trying to work it out in the dressing room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] chatter will not be helpful so it is about striving to sort it out in there.” “In my opinion the manager has been superb. I myself have a great rapport with him,” Bellingham stated. “After the run of games where we were held a few, we had some really great conversations among ourselves.” “Every situation concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps referring as much about a difficult spell as his own predicament.