Can Xabi Alonso Rise to Real Madrid's Sky-High Expectations?
Following Real Madrid's third straight La Liga match without a victory, Xabi Alonso remarked to journalists: "The season is lengthy." However, patience with struggling coaches at the world's most prestigious club is usually anything but lengthy.
Alonso faces mounting pressure during his inaugural campaign managing Real Madrid. The ex-Bayer Leverkusen tactician transitioned from a triumphant departure in Germany, where he achieved Bundesliga and continental glory, to shouldering responsibility for Los Blancos' early campaign struggles.
Succeeding Carlo Ancelotti, the most successful coach in the club's history, was always destined to be challenging. However, Alonso received an enhanced defensive unit, a Ballon d'Or-caliber beginning from Kylian Mbappé, and a Barcelona team hampered by injuries to assist his initial months managing in Spain's premier division.
Therefore, it's unsurprising that the Spanish manager faces criticism given Real Madrid's current downturn that dropped them to second place in La Liga after stalemates with Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona. The club managed only one victory in their previous five fixtures across all tournaments.
While responsibility for the Spanish powerhouse's decline in performance should be distributed, numerous questionable choices from Alonso make it reasonable to wonder: Is he overwhelmed transitioning from Bayer Leverkusen to Real Madrid management?
Puzzling Strategic Choices Take the Spotlight
When a new manager accumulates multiple eyebrow-raising tactical choices before December arrives, it signals trouble. Alonso has consistently implemented risky experiments during crucial matches for Real Madrid, with nearly every attempt backfiring.
The Spanish coach deployed an attacking trio featuring Mbappé, Gonzalo García, and Vinicius Junior during the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal versus Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid suffered a 4–0 defeat in that encounter.
Alonso also inserted a recently fit Jude Bellingham into his starting eleven against Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid, who maintained perfection in 2025–26 until that fixture, fell 5–2 at the Metropolitano.
With Barcelona gradually closing the La Liga title gap, Alonso sidelined Vinicius Jr for Rodrygo and selected Fran García in midfield against Elche. Real Madrid achieved only a 2–2 stalemate on that day, with both goals arriving after García and Rodrygo departed and Vinicius Jr entered.
Additionally, there are obvious, persistent issues affecting Los Blancos that appear unresolved. The squad remains stagnant during possession phases, lacks midfield authority, crowds the left wing, and rarely features players advancing into scoring areas. This doesn't include the diminished energy Alonso's team has displayed since defeating Barcelona in October.
Certainly, Alonso isn't physically competing; his talented roster must undoubtedly produce superior displays throughout matches. Nevertheless, the manager frequently hampers Real Madrid through his peculiar trials rather than discovering lasting remedies.
Confusing Player Changes Provide No Assistance
Beyond his dubious tactics in significant matches, Alonso has struggled with well-timed and effective player changes. Several instances exist, but two are particularly notable: El Clásico and Real Madrid's 1–1 tie with Girona.
The choice to withdraw Vinicius Jr represents the lesser concern, despite subsequent drama. Alonso presumably believed his team required an energy injection, fresh players to navigate the closing moments against Barcelona.
However, removing the Brazilian star, who was arguably the match's standout performer that afternoon at the Bernabéu, seemed bewildering given Los Blancos were still pursuing a third goal. If the Catalans had secured a late equalizer following Alonso's removal of his most threatening player, the substitution would have faced greater criticism.
Moving ahead several weeks to the team's encounter with Girona. Real Madrid desperately needed a genuine striker in the penalty area to capitalize on Trent Alexander-Arnold's exceptional delivery. Alonso, however, didn't introduce Gonzalo until the 90th minute, doing so by substituting Alexander-Arnold.
The forward had merely four additional minutes to attempt securing victory for the visitors, needing to accomplish this without the individual who supplied enticing crosses throughout the evening. Even Endrick represented a possibility, but the Brazilian remained unused on the substitutes' bench.
Naturally, determining whether alternative decisions would have altered the final outcome at Estadi Montilivi is impossible, but superior substitutions would have enhanced Real Madrid's prospects of claiming maximum points against a team possessing statistically the league's poorest defense.
Handling Superstars Presents Unique Challenges
Beyond tactical and match-day choices, managing personalities and prominent figures in Real Madrid's locker room represents unfamiliar territory for Alonso. The World Cup champion transitioned from directing players like Alejandro Grimaldo, Amine Adli, and young Florian Wirtz against modest Bundesliga opposition to supervising Mbappé, Vinicius Jr, and Jude Bellingham.
Alonso inherited a squad of established champions, most possessing at least one Champions League trophy. A team that enjoyed an excellent rapport with Ancelotti, despite previous season's disappointments.
Rather than cultivating similar confidence, Alonso clashed with Vinicius Jr, resulting in the winger's public outburst when substituted against Barcelona. Furthermore, the No. 7 allegedly delayed contract renewal discussions due to his worsening relationship with the manager.
It could be the beginning of the end for Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid... if he did leave, where would he actually go? pic.twitter.com/YfRJQraWMQ
Even if media outlets exaggerate tensions between them, this distraction unnecessarily burdens the team. Zinedine Zidane managed a roster with larger personalities, greater reputations, and higher expectations without introducing even minimal external turmoil that Alonso has permitted into the dressing room just four months into the campaign.
While Vinicius Jr shares responsibility, reports of increasing dissatisfaction among other players wearing white regarding the Spanish manager extend beyond the 2024 Ballon d'Or finalist.
As pressure intensifies around Alonso, the 44-year-old will probably have restricted time to demonstrate his ability to guide Real Madrid through this difficult period. The manager must ensure his team performs like trophy contenders and restore their supremacy domestically and continentally.
Should additional setbacks occur, Alonso will quickly find himself amid a crisis extending beyond Spanish newspaper headlines.