🔗 Share this article Alonso Walking a Thin Line at Real Madrid Even With Player Support. No forward in Real Madrid’s history had experienced scoreless for as long as Rodrygo, but eventually he was released and he had a statement to broadcast, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in almost a year and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Pep Guardiola's side. Then he spun and ran towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the boss in the spotlight for whom this could prove an more significant release. “It’s a challenging period for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Results aren't working out and I aimed to demonstrate everyone that we are as one with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo spoke, the advantage had been surrendered, another loss ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “fragile” condition, he added, but at least Madrid had fought back. Ultimately, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played 11 minutes all season, struck the bar in the final seconds. A Delayed Verdict “It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo conceded. The dilemma was whether it would be enough for Alonso to keep his position. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was felt privately. “Our performance proved that we’re behind the manager: we have given a good account, provided 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the final decision was reserved, any action suspended, with games against Alavés and Sevilla looming. A More Credible Type of Loss Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, extending their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this was a little different. This was the Premier League champions, as opposed to a La Liga opponent. Stripped down, they had actually run, the easiest and most harsh accusation not aimed at them on this night. With eight men out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a converted penalty, almost salvaging something at the death. There were “a lot of very good things” about this performance, the manager stated, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, tonight. The Fans' Muted Reaction That was not always the complete picture. There were moments in the closing 45 minutes, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At the final whistle, a section of supporters had done so again, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But primarily, there was a quiet procession to the subway. “That’s normal, we accept it,” Rodrygo noted. Alonso stated: “There's nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were instances when they cheered too.” Dressing Room Backing Is Firm “I have the support of the players,” Alonso said. And if he backed them, they supported him too, at least in front of the media. There has been a rapprochement, talks: the coach had accommodated them, arguably more than they had adapted to him, meeting common ground not precisely in the middle. How lasting a remedy that is continues to be an unresolved issue. One little moment in the post-match press conference seemed notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s advice to do things his way, Alonso had let that idea to linger, responding: “I have a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he understands what he is implying.” A Starting Point of Fight Crucially though, he could be pleased that there was a fight, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they defended him. This support may have been for show, done out of obligation or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was important. The commitment with which they played had been too – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of expectations somehow being promoted as a form of positive. The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a strategy, that their shortcomings were not his fault. “I believe my colleague Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The key is [for] the players to improve the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a shift.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were supporting the coach, also replied with a figure: “100%.” “We are continuing attempting to work it out in the changing room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be helpful so it is about striving to sort it out in there.” “In my opinion the manager has been excellent. I myself have a great rapport with him,” Bellingham concluded. “Following the run of games where we drew a few, we had some really great conversations behind the scenes.” “All things passes in the end,” Alonso mused, maybe talking as much about adversity as anything else.
No forward in Real Madrid’s history had experienced scoreless for as long as Rodrygo, but eventually he was released and he had a statement to broadcast, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in almost a year and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Pep Guardiola's side. Then he spun and ran towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the boss in the spotlight for whom this could prove an more significant release. “It’s a challenging period for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Results aren't working out and I aimed to demonstrate everyone that we are as one with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo spoke, the advantage had been surrendered, another loss ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “fragile” condition, he added, but at least Madrid had fought back. Ultimately, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played 11 minutes all season, struck the bar in the final seconds. A Delayed Verdict “It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo conceded. The dilemma was whether it would be enough for Alonso to keep his position. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was felt privately. “Our performance proved that we’re behind the manager: we have given a good account, provided 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the final decision was reserved, any action suspended, with games against Alavés and Sevilla looming. A More Credible Type of Loss Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, extending their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this was a little different. This was the Premier League champions, as opposed to a La Liga opponent. Stripped down, they had actually run, the easiest and most harsh accusation not aimed at them on this night. With eight men out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a converted penalty, almost salvaging something at the death. There were “a lot of very good things” about this performance, the manager stated, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, tonight. The Fans' Muted Reaction That was not always the complete picture. There were moments in the closing 45 minutes, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At the final whistle, a section of supporters had done so again, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But primarily, there was a quiet procession to the subway. “That’s normal, we accept it,” Rodrygo noted. Alonso stated: “There's nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were instances when they cheered too.” Dressing Room Backing Is Firm “I have the support of the players,” Alonso said. And if he backed them, they supported him too, at least in front of the media. There has been a rapprochement, talks: the coach had accommodated them, arguably more than they had adapted to him, meeting common ground not precisely in the middle. How lasting a remedy that is continues to be an unresolved issue. One little moment in the post-match press conference seemed notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s advice to do things his way, Alonso had let that idea to linger, responding: “I have a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he understands what he is implying.” A Starting Point of Fight Crucially though, he could be pleased that there was a fight, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they defended him. This support may have been for show, done out of obligation or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was important. The commitment with which they played had been too – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of expectations somehow being promoted as a form of positive. The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a strategy, that their shortcomings were not his fault. “I believe my colleague Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The key is [for] the players to improve the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a shift.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were supporting the coach, also replied with a figure: “100%.” “We are continuing attempting to work it out in the changing room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be helpful so it is about striving to sort it out in there.” “In my opinion the manager has been excellent. I myself have a great rapport with him,” Bellingham concluded. “Following the run of games where we drew a few, we had some really great conversations behind the scenes.” “All things passes in the end,” Alonso mused, maybe talking as much about adversity as anything else.