Xabi Alonso chose to defend his players and highlight their commitment, even as the pressure around his Real Madrid project intensified following a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The loss leaves Madrid in a difficult moment – only two wins in their last eight games – but the head coach was keen to stress that desire and effort are not the problem inside the dressing room.
“We’re dealing with injuries, but our players are giving it their all, so we have nothing to complain about today. I really appreciate the attitude of the players on a daily basis, and we have to keep going,” Alonso said after the final whistle.
Bright start, brutal punishment
Madrid actually started the night with the kind of energy the Bernabéu had been demanding. The press was coordinated, the ball moved quickly through midfield, and the front line looked sharp. Their early reward came through Rodrygo, who finally ended his goal drought by opening the scoring – his first goal since March.
The Brazilian’s strike briefly lifted the atmosphere and gave the impression that Madrid might use the Champions League stage to reset their season and silence some of the doubts surrounding the team.
Instead, familiar problems reappeared.
Within ten chaotic minutes, the game flipped on its head. From a corner, Thibaut Courtois misjudged the delivery and failed to claim the ball cleanly, allowing City’s Nico O’Reilly to react quickest and stab in the equaliser. Moments later, Antonio Rüdiger got tangled up with Erling Haaland inside the area, wrestling the Norwegian to the ground and gifting the visitors a penalty that was calmly converted.
From 1–0 up and in control, Madrid suddenly found themselves chasing the game.
Restless Bernabéu, mixed performance
As the match wore on, Madrid continued to create moments but lacked precision in the final third. Half-chances went begging, final passes were overhit, and when shooting opportunities appeared, City’s defence and goalkeeper stood firm.
The Bernabéu crowd, already on edge after recent results, made their feelings clear. Missed chances and defensive lapses were met with groans; by full-time, the whistles were loud and sustained as the players walked off.
Alonso, however, did not try to hide from that reaction.
“When you don’t win at home, (whistling) can happen, but there have been other times when they have supported us,” he admitted. He described the performance as “mixed”, accepting that there were positive spells but also recognising that Madrid did not manage the decisive moments well enough.
His words showed a coach trying to strike a balance between protecting his squad and being honest about the standards expected at Real Madrid. There was no attempt to paint the display as a complete disaster, but neither did he pretend everything was fine.
Injuries, mentality and responsibility
One of Alonso’s central messages was that injuries have undeniably complicated Madrid’s season. Key absences at both ends of the pitch have forced constant reshuffles, particularly in defence, where rhythm and understanding are crucial.
Even so, he made it clear that the group cannot hide behind that explanation forever. His praise for the players’ attitude – “daily” – was a reminder that training standards remain high, but also an indirect challenge: if the commitment is there, the quality and focus during games must now follow.
The coach also hinted at his willingness to be self-critical, acknowledging that it is his job to help the team become more solid, more ruthless and more consistent across 90 minutes, especially in high-pressure fixtures like this one.
All eyes on Alavés
There is no time for Madrid to dwell on the disappointment. Real Madrid now turns their attention to LaLiga, where they face Alavés on Sunday – a match that suddenly feels much bigger than the name of the opponent.
After being whistled off at home, the team needs a convincing response. A strong performance and three points would not erase the pain of the Man City defeat, but it could calm the noise around Alonso and restore some belief inside the dressing room and in the stands.
For now, RMxtra can say this much: the coach is standing firmly in front of his players, praising their effort and defending their mentality. But at Real Madrid, attitude alone is never enough. The next step has to be results – and Sunday against Alavés already looks like another defining chapter in Xabi Alonso’s early reign at the Bernabéu.