Xabi Alonso Treading a Fine Line at Real Madrid Despite Squad Endorsement.

No attacker in Real Madrid’s record books had experienced scoreless for as such a duration as Rodrygo, but at last he was freed and he had a statement to broadcast, acted out for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in almost a year and was commencing only his fifth game this term, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the advantage against Manchester City. Then he wheeled and sprinted towards the sideline to hug Xabi Alonso, the boss on the edge for whom this could represent an even greater relief.

“It’s a tough period for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Things aren't working out and I wanted to demonstrate everyone that we are as one with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo spoke, the advantage had been lost, a setback following. City had turned it around, going 2-1 ahead with “very little”, Alonso remarked. That can occur when you’re in a “delicate” state, he added, but at least Madrid had responded. Ultimately, they could not pull off a turnaround. Endrick, brought on having played 11 minutes all season, rattled the crossbar in the closing stages.

A Suspended Judgment

“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo said. The question was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to retain his role. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was felt privately. “We have shown that we’re with the manager: we have played well, provided 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so the final decision was postponed, any action suspended, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla imminent.

A Distinct Form of Setback

Madrid had been overcome at home for the second time in four days, continuing their uninspiring streak to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this was a more respectable. This was Manchester City, rather than a lesser opponent. Stripped down, they had shown fight, the easiest and most harsh criticism not directed at them this time. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a penalty, nearly salvaging something at the final whistle. There were “a lot of very good things” about this showing, the boss stated, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, tonight.

The Fans' Muted Reception

That was not completely the case. There were periods in the closing 45 minutes, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At full time, a portion of supporters had repeated that, although there was in addition pockets of appreciation. But for the most part, there was a muted procession to the exits. “That’s normal, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso remarked: “It’s nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were times when they applauded too.”

Squad Support Remains Strong

“I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he stood by them, they backed him too, at least in front of the cameras. There has been a coming together, discussions: the coach had listened to them, arguably more than they had embraced him, reaching a point not exactly in the center.

Whether durable a remedy that is is still an open question. One little exchange in the post-match press conference appeared notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had let that idea to hang there, responding: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we know each other well and he knows what he is saying.”

A Foundation of Fight

Crucially though, he could be satisfied that there was a fight, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they defended him. Some of this may have been for show, done out of professionalism or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was important. The effort with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of requirements somehow being framed as a form of achievement.

The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a strategy, that their shortcomings were not his responsibility. “In my view my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The sole solution is [for] the players to alter the attitude. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have seen a difference.”

Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also answered with a figure: “100%.”

“We’re still trying to work it out in the changing room,” he elaborated. “We understand that the [outside] noise will not be productive so it is about trying to resolve it in there.”

“Personally, I feel the coach has been superb. I individually have a excellent relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the sequence of games where we drew a few, we had some honest conversations among ourselves.”

“Every situation concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps talking as much about adversity as everything.