BREAKING: Xabi Alonso given January runway after Bernabéu shocker
Real Madrid have backed Xabi Alonso through January, after a 2-1 home loss to Manchester City sent the Bernabéu into open revolt. I can confirm the club will keep Alonso in charge through the start of the Copa del Rey. The next four weeks will decide his future, with the league run and the cup opener set to be the yardstick. The message is clear, steady the team now, or the club will act.
The defeat that lit the fuse
Madrid struck first against City, then lost control. Rodrygo’s early goal should have settled the night. Instead, City seized the rhythm, punished soft spots, and led by halftime. That halftime reversal, after Madrid scored first in Europe, was a first in more than three decades. It told the story of a team that lost its grip in key moments.
The whistle brought boos. They were loud, and they were aimed at the bench and the pitch. Alonso met the fury with calm. He spoke to players on the field longer than usual, then walked straight down the tunnel. The tone in the dressing room was blunt. Mistakes had names, and so did the solutions.
[IMAGE_1]
Tactics under fire, and the right side problem
This was not only about effort. It was about structure. Madrid’s right flank, already stretched, broke at the wrong times. With Trent Alexander Arnold out for more than two months, the team has no natural right back available. That has changed the build up, the press, and the defensive balance.
Alonso tried to solve it with a hybrid shape. The right back tucked inside in possession, the winger tracked deep, and the midfield slid across. It worked in phases, then City pinned the full width and ran through the space. The line stepped late, the cover dropped early, and City feasted on the gap between right back and right center back.
Up the pitch, the attack was fluent in the first 20 minutes. Bellingham found pockets. Rodrygo stretched the line. Then the spacing broke. Madrid’s midfield got flat, and runners stopped moving off the ball. The team looked split in two, and the counter press had holes. That swing, not one single error, flipped the match.
Club decision, Alonso stays through the Copa del Rey in January. Results in the league and cup will decide what happens next.
The dressing room, support and strain
Inside Valdebebas, senior voices stepped up for their coach. Jude Bellingham led that line, and his message was unity. Several veterans echoed it on the training ground this morning. They want clarity and simpler roles, especially for the younger players.
There is strain too. Former players have questioned discipline and shape, and some of that has reached the squad. Alonso addressed it head on today. He shortened the meeting, then pushed the group straight into tactical reps. Less talk, more reps, was the theme.
Man management now matters as much as a whiteboard. Alonso has leaned on clear rules. Shorter distances between lines. Two touch in buildup. Hit the box with three. It sounds simple, and it needs to look simple on match day.
Injuries are real. With Trent out, Madrid lack a natural right back, and that limits rotations and rest.
The road to January, what must change now
Madrid do not have time to feel sorry. The league does not wait, and the Copa de Rey arrives in early January. The board want points, clean sheets, and a calmer stadium. There is a path to that, and it starts on the training pitch.
Here is what Alonso has set as immediate tasks:
- Lock the right side with a specialist profile, a defender or a wide midfielder, to stop transitions.
- Simplify the midfield roles so Bellingham can attack the box more often.
- Sharpen set piece defending, with a tighter near post screen.
- Be ruthless in front of goal, shoot earlier and crash the six yard box.
He will also weigh a small tweak up front. A natural nine gives targets and second balls, which helps when the rhythm dips. The staff like the energy of a press leader, even if it means one less playmaker between the lines.
[IMAGE_2]
Spain knows what this club expects in winter. The Bernabéu wants bite, control, and belief. The shirt is heavy, but it also gives power. If Madrid get the first goal and keep the shape, the mood will turn fast. If not, the noise will get louder, and the calendar will not forgive.
Watch the first 15 minutes of the next match. If Madrid’s right side holds and the press wins second balls, the plan is working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Xabi Alonso getting sacked now?
A: No. He stays through the Copa del Rey in January. Results in the next stretch will decide his future.
Q: What will change tactically?
A: A safer right side, a simpler midfield, and sharper set piece coverage. Expect a more direct final third.
Q: How big is the injury issue?
A: It is significant. Trent Alexander Arnold is out for more than two months, and there is no natural right back to plug in.
Q: Do the players back Alonso?
A: Senior players have backed him, and training today reflected that. The group knows the standards and the stakes.
Q: What results does he need?
A: Wins in the league and a strong Copa del Rey start. Clean sheets would carry weight with the board.
Conclusion
This is a stress test for a young coach at a giant. The City loss exposed cracks, but it also set the target. Fix the right side, steady the press, and trust the stars to finish. January is the line in the sand, and the next 30 days will define the Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid.
