Real Madrid’s dressing room is reportedly divided over head coach Xabi Alonso following a run of lackluster performances. Los Blancos dropped precious points in a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Girona, extending a frustrating run that also included draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche. The result sees Real trailing Barcelona by one point in a tense La Liga title race.
The team has endured four successive away games in all competitions, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League, after their Santiago Bernabeu hosted an NFL fixture on November 16. The grueling schedule appears to have taken a toll, as reports indicate a “division of opinion in the dressing room” over Alonso’s methods.
Sources from The Athletic suggest some first-team stars, including Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde, and Eduardo Camavinga, are trying to calm talk of rifts. Yet, players remain split between those unconvinced by Alonso’s approach and those who believe the issues lie elsewhere.
One insider commented:
“This is not the coach’s problem, it’s very obvious.”
Another source highlighted player incompatibilities as a root cause:
“The problem is not Xabi. Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham are incompatible; you can’t have a balanced team with those three.”
Alonso’s messages are reportedly not fully resonating, leading to disjointed displays on the pitch and mounting scrutiny from fans and analysts alike.
The coaching staff acknowledge that Alonso faces a difficult task changing the dynamic inherited from Carlo Ancelotti. While he is not under immediate threat, upcoming matches, including a crucial away fixture against Athletic Club, are vital not just for results but also for maintaining credibility and team cohesion.
An insider summarized the situation:
“Things look very difficult at the moment because Real are playing very badly. That draw at Girona is being viewed as a disaster.”
With Real Madrid’s title hopes on the line, Alonso must navigate internal tensions and tactical challenges if Los Blancos are to reclaim dominance in La Liga.
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