It wasn’t meant to be this way. Hired to lead Real Madrid into a brave new era following the malaise of Carlo Ancelotti’s last season, Xabi Alonso now faces calls to be sacked after just six months in the hot seat.
Reports out of Spain were suggesting that if Alonso’s side lost to Man City in the Champions League on Wednesday (December 10), he would be sacked. Well, they were beaten 2-1, and at the time of writing, he’s still in the job.
That could still change, but Real Madrid would be wise to resist the urge and give Alonso the time he deserves to implement his ideas.
Sulking superstars
Real Madrid is an institution, arguably the biggest club one the planet, but it’s also a circus. Anything short of perfection is scrutinized, even Cristiano Ronaldo, the best player in the club’s history, was booed by fans at times.
Alonso’s arrival was always going to signal a major transition. For all of Ancelotti’s many pros, he’s not known for putting much stock in tactics and analytics, honestly, he’s probably the only modern manager who has found success that way.
The former midfielder stepped into a dressing room filled with superstars that were allowed to do as they pleased under Ancelotti. The likes of Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham didn’t concern themselves with things like pressing and tracking back.
Alonso won La Liga’s manager of the month back in August, but since then, they haven’t been good enough. When egos are bruised, the sulking begins, Alonso loses the dressing room and results suffer.
Real have had 19 head coaches in the 21st century, including two stints apiece from Zinedine Zidane and Ancelotti. In their most recent spells at the helm, Zidane managed 114 games and Ancelotti 234.
That would imply patience, but when you did a little deeper, you also see that Julen Lopetegui lasted 14 games and Santiago Solari 32. The pressure is immense, and despite Alonso’s history with the club, credit runs out quickly, if it’s ever given at all.
An inability to press cohesively
Alonso has many of the same issues Ancelotti had in his last season, most notably the lack of intensity off the ball. His Bayer Leverkusen side pressed ferociously, he’s yet to persuade the superstars at Real Madrid to do the same.
As he attempts to cram in all the attacking quality he has at his disposal and satisfy some frustrated players, Alonso has played a 4-4-2 out of possession, but those at the top of the pitch, usually Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, don’t press consistently enough.
There was some really worrying signs in the 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo. Just seconds into the game, Federico Valverde turned to the bench seemingly to ask if he should press to opposition attackers or hold position.
That lack of cohesion allowed Celta to play through them relatively easily even though Real Madrid had most of the ball. It wasn’t until they went down to ten men in the 64th minute when Fran Garcia saw red, they looked at each other and thought they could actually lose the game.
Alonso’s system requires total alignment from every player, but Madrid’s display was marred by fragmented attempts to step higher and inconsistent decision-making throughout the team.
Can Alonso turn things around?
Of course he can, but it’s probably going to get a little worse before it gets better. Player power is what’s standing in his way at the moment, if Alonso is to be a success at Real Madrid, feelings are going to be hurt.
An example needs to be made, and the most likely to be sacrificed in Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian’s contract issues aren’t doing anyone any favours, his output in front of goal simply doesn’t justify the wages he’s asking for, not matter how good he is.
Real Madrid have clung onto the ‘Galactico’ ideology for long enough. Hiring Alonso, a tactically astute manager with clear ideas, was a step in the right direction, not they need to commit to it.