Alonso Navigating a Thin Line at Real Madrid Despite Dressing Room Endorsement.

No attacker in Real Madrid’s record books had gone scoreless for as such a duration as Rodrygo, but eventually he was released and he had a statement to deliver, performed for public consumption. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in an extended drought and was starting only his fifth appearance this season, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the lead against the English champions. Then he turned and charged towards the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could prove an more significant release.

“This is a difficult time for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Results aren't working out and I wanted to show everyone that we are united with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo spoke, the lead had been taken from them, a defeat taking its place. City had reversed the score, going 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso observed. That can occur when you’re in a “sensitive” state, he continued, but at least Madrid had reacted. This time, they could not complete a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played a handful of minutes all season, struck the bar in the closing stages.

A Reserved Sentence

“The effort fell short,” Rodrygo admitted. The dilemma was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to keep his role. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was felt privately. “We have shown that we’re behind the manager: we have given a good account, provided 100%,” Courtois added. And so judgment was withheld, sentencing suspended, with games against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A More Credible Type of Defeat

Madrid had been beaten at home for the second time in four days, continuing their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this was a more respectable. This was Manchester City, rather than a lesser opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the easiest and most harsh accusation not levelled at them in this instance. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a penalty, nearly earning something at the final whistle. There were “a lot of very good things” about this performance, the head coach argued, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, on this occasion.

The Fans' Mixed Reaction

That was not completely the complete picture. There were periods in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At full time, a portion of supporters had done so again, although there was in addition sporadic clapping. But mostly, there was a subdued flow to the exits. “We understand that, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso added: “There's nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were instances when they applauded too.”

Squad Unity Stands Firm

“I sense the confidence of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he supported them, they supported him too, at least towards the media. There has been a unification, discussions: the coach had accommodated them, arguably more than they had adapted to him, finding somewhere not exactly in the compromise.

The longevity of a remedy that is remains an open question. One small incident in the after-game press conference appeared significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to stick to his principles, Alonso had permitted that idea to linger, responding: “I have a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he understands what he is talking about.”

A Starting Point of Reaction

Crucially though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they stood up for him. Part of it may have been for show, done out of professionalism or self-interest, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The commitment with which they played had been as well – even if there is a danger of the most basic of expectations somehow being elevated as a kind of positive.

The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a plan, that their mistakes were not his doing. “In my view my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The sole solution is [for] the players to change the mindset. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have seen a shift.”

Jude Bellingham, asked if they were with the coach, also replied quantitatively: “100%.”

“We persist in striving to work it out in the dressing room,” he said. “It's clear that the [outside] speculation will not be helpful so it is about attempting to sort it out in there.”

“In my opinion the manager has been superb. I personally have a great rapport with him,” Bellingham added. “After the spell of games where we were held a few, we had some honest conversations behind the scenes.”

“Everything ends in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps speaking as much about poor form as everything.