Xabi Alonso Delivers Bold Warning to Rebellious Real Madrid Squad
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged reports confirming he maintains the support of club president Florentino Pérez in an unusual glimpse into internal affairs.
Alonso's tenure at Madrid has come under somewhat absurd questioning. The Spanish giants continue to lead La Liga and have suffered only two defeats in their 17 fixtures across all tournaments this campaign—losses to crosstown rivals Atlético Madrid and defending Premier League titleholders Liverpool. Nevertheless, results falling short of dominant victories fail to meet the club's elevated expectations.
As Alonso's former boss Carlo Ancelotti previously reflected: "Something I discovered at Real Madrid is that a tie here signals the beginning of turmoil. I'm serious. You must adapt to that reality."
Madrid have registered consecutive draws following their 1–0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield this month. These outcomes have unfolded amid widespread tension within the squad, with Vinicius Junior allegedly among several players dissatisfied with Alonso's managerial approach.
The Brazilian attacker, who has shown several instances of public defiance toward his coach, is now believed to be declining contract extension talks due to his strained relationship with Alonso.
Despite mounting unease, the club's former midfielder reportedly retains president Pérez's confidence, initially reported by AS. The same Spanish publication directly questioned Alonso about this discussion and received confirmation while he prepared for Madrid's Champions League encounter with Olympiacos.
Alonso Places Personality Management Equal to Tactics at Real Madrid
William Shakespeare's Othello stood as Venice's finest general, perhaps globally. His undoing stemmed not from strategy but character conflicts. Alonso confronts similar challenges.
When questioned about handling his squad's personalities, Alonso acknowledged: "It holds equal weight to footballing principles, tactical preparation, and physical conditioning.
"Handling characters, extracting peak performance from players, ensuring their optimal comfort. It's an ongoing process with various highs and lows, requiring skillful navigation in any squad, particularly at Real Madrid."
Vinicius isn't the sole player reportedly dissatisfied with the former Bayer Leverkusen boss. Earlier reports this season suggested unnamed "major stars" feel "frustrated," "disrespected and unhappy" with Alonso, characterized as "cold and inaccessible." Many allegedly shared identical harsh assessments: "He believes he's Pep Guardiola."
"I've collaborated with exceptional players and characters who maintain high standards," Alonso commented regarding Madrid's locker room. "Their responses contribute to their excellence. That's the privilege of being at Madrid, having players of this quality. You must maintain connection with them."
Alonso declined to address whether his star players had specifically challenged his authority. "You must show tremendous respect for the players and groups, and their preparation methods. I won't and refuse to discuss that topic," he stated.
"I understand the locker room dynamics, the phases you must navigate while managing outside pressure. We attempt to handle it through communication, these are circumstances that occur at this institution and we cannot allow them to derail our concentration."