🔗 Share this article Manager Alonso Walking a Thin Tightrope at Madrid Amidst Player Endorsement. No forward in the club's history had gone failing to find the net for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was released and he had a statement to deliver, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was starting only his fifth game this campaign, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and sprinted towards the bench to hug Xabi Alonso, the boss under pressure for whom this could signal an even greater relief. “This is a difficult period for him, similar to how it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Results aren’t coming off and I wanted to demonstrate the public that we are together with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been surrendered, a setback taking its place. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso noted. That can transpire when you’re in a “sensitive” situation, he added, but at least Madrid had reacted. On this occasion, they could not complete a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played very little all season, hit the crossbar in the final seconds. A Reserved Sentence “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo said. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his role. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We have shown that we’re with the coach: we have played well, given 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the final decision was reserved, sentencing pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A More Credible Type of Loss Madrid had been defeated at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their poor form to two wins in eight, but this seemed a more respectable. This was a European powerhouse, rather than a domestic opponent. Streamlined, they had competed with intensity, the simplest and most harsh criticism not directed at them in this instance. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a penalty, nearly salvaging something at the final whistle. There were “numerous of very good things” about this performance, the boss argued, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, not this time. The Stadium's Muted Reception That was not entirely the complete picture. There were spells in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the final whistle, a section of supporters had continued, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But mostly, there was a subdued procession to the subway. “That’s normal, we understand it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso added: “There's nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they clapped too.” Dressing Room Support Is Strong “I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he backed them, they backed him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a unification, discussions: the coach had considered them, maybe more than they had embraced him, reaching common ground not quite in the compromise. The longevity of a remedy that is is still an open question. One seemingly minor exchange in the after-game press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had permitted that idea to remain unanswered, replying: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we know each other well and he understands what he is talking about.” A Foundation of Fight Above all though, he could be content that there was a spirit, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they defended him. This support may have been performative, done out of duty or self-interest, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The intensity with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a danger of the most basic of requirements somehow being promoted as a kind of success. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a plan, that their mistakes were not his responsibility. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The only way is [for] the players to alter the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have observed a shift.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also responded with a figure: “100%.” “We are continuing trying to work it out in the changing room,” he said. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be helpful so it is about trying to resolve it in there.” “Personally, I feel the manager has been excellent. I personally have a strong rapport with him,” Bellingham concluded. “Following the sequence of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations internally.” “All things concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, possibly referring as much about poor form as his own predicament.
No forward in the club's history had gone failing to find the net for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was released and he had a statement to deliver, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was starting only his fifth game this campaign, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and sprinted towards the bench to hug Xabi Alonso, the boss under pressure for whom this could signal an even greater relief. “This is a difficult period for him, similar to how it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Results aren’t coming off and I wanted to demonstrate the public that we are together with the coach.” By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been surrendered, a setback taking its place. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso noted. That can transpire when you’re in a “sensitive” situation, he added, but at least Madrid had reacted. On this occasion, they could not complete a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played very little all season, hit the crossbar in the final seconds. A Reserved Sentence “It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo said. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his role. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We have shown that we’re with the coach: we have played well, given 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the final decision was reserved, sentencing pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent. A More Credible Type of Loss Madrid had been defeated at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their poor form to two wins in eight, but this seemed a more respectable. This was a European powerhouse, rather than a domestic opponent. Streamlined, they had competed with intensity, the simplest and most harsh criticism not directed at them in this instance. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a penalty, nearly salvaging something at the final whistle. There were “numerous of very good things” about this performance, the boss argued, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, not this time. The Stadium's Muted Reception That was not entirely the complete picture. There were spells in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the final whistle, a section of supporters had continued, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But mostly, there was a subdued procession to the subway. “That’s normal, we understand it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso added: “There's nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they clapped too.” Dressing Room Support Is Strong “I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he backed them, they backed him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a unification, discussions: the coach had considered them, maybe more than they had embraced him, reaching common ground not quite in the compromise. The longevity of a remedy that is is still an open question. One seemingly minor exchange in the after-game press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had permitted that idea to remain unanswered, replying: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we know each other well and he understands what he is talking about.” A Foundation of Fight Above all though, he could be content that there was a spirit, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they defended him. This support may have been performative, done out of duty or self-interest, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The intensity with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a danger of the most basic of requirements somehow being promoted as a kind of success. Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a plan, that their mistakes were not his responsibility. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The only way is [for] the players to alter the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have observed a shift.” Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also responded with a figure: “100%.” “We are continuing trying to work it out in the changing room,” he said. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be helpful so it is about trying to resolve it in there.” “Personally, I feel the manager has been excellent. I personally have a strong rapport with him,” Bellingham concluded. “Following the sequence of games where we tied a few, we had some honest conversations internally.” “All things concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, possibly referring as much about poor form as his own predicament.