Will Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso is the question dominating conversations across the Bernabéu and beyond. A few weeks ago, it felt unthinkable. Alonso’s Real Madrid were top of La Liga, playing proactive football and navigating a tricky Champions League group phase with authority.
Now, after a damaging 2–0 home defeat to Celta Vigo, the mood has flipped. Madrid have just two wins from their last six matches in all competitions, the dressing room feels tense, and a crucial Champions League night against Manchester City has been framed as a potential “last chance” for the head coach.
At RMxtra, we break down how things have unravelled so quickly, why the Man City clash is so decisive, and what could happen next.
From flying start to full-blown crisis
Alonso’s first months in charge brought optimism. Madrid built a five-point cushion at the top of La Liga after a key Clásico win and looked well-placed in Europe. The project appeared ahead of schedule.
But by early December, that cushion has evaporated. Real Madrid now trails Barcelona in the league table after 16 matches, with Villarreal closing in just behind. The results swing alone would worry any big club; at Madrid, where standards are non-negotiable, it has triggered alarms at board level.
The Celta defeat was particularly damaging for three reasons:
- The performance was flat, rushed and disjointed, especially in the final third.
- The discipline – two red cards and constant arguments with the referee left Madrid ending the game with nine men.
- The context – it followed a period of erratic form, turning a “bad night” into a genuine crisis.
This was not just a one-off slip. It felt like the point where underlying issues finally burst into the open.
Why Xabi Alonso is under such intense pressure
1. Results and league position
Real Madrid have gone from controlling the title race to chasing. Dropped points have allowed Barcelona to recover ground and overtake them, while the chasing pack has grown bolder.
For a club that measures itself by trophies, seeing a five-point lead transform into a deficit in just a few weeks will never be taken lightly. Results always form the basis of any evaluation, and currently, the trend is negative.
2. Performances and discipline
The numbers tell one story; the eye test tells an even harsher one.
In several recent games, Madrid have:
- Struggled to control matches for long spells.
- Looked fragile in defensive transitions.
- Allowed frustration to boil over into unnecessary bookings and dismissals.
The Celta match summed it up: individual mistakes, rushed decisions, and red cards that hinted at a team running on emotion rather than clarity. For a coach who built his reputation on control and structure, this is a worrying sign.
3. Injuries and defensive instability
To be clear, not everything is in Alonso’s control.
Madrid are facing a genuine injury crisis, particularly in defence. Key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Éder Militao and Dean Huijsen are all dealing with fitness issues, forcing constant reshuffles at the back and pushing makeshift back lines into high-stakes matches.
Any coach would struggle under those conditions. However, at this level, excuses only go so far. Injuries explain part of the story, but they don’t erase the questions around organisation, mentality and decision-making.
4. Dressing-room tension and rotation debates
Perhaps the most concerning element is the atmosphere around the squad.
- There is visible frustration from certain key players over minutes and roles, with Vinícius Jr’s reduced involvement becoming a major talking point.
- Some members of the dressing room are understood to be unconvinced by aspects of Alonso’s approach, from tactical instructions to rotation patterns.
When results are positive, these tensions stay beneath the surface. When defeats arrive, they quickly become fault lines. For a relatively new coach, losing part of the dressing room’s confidence can be fatal.
Manchester City as the “last chance”
Inside the club, the upcoming Champions League clash against Manchester City at the Bernabéu is being treated as a decisive exam for Xabi Alonso.
It is not an official ultimatum written on paper, but the feeling is clear:
- Another damaging defeat, especially at home and on a European night, could push the leadership towards a change on the bench.
- A strong reaction – whether a win or a convincing performance that restores belief – might be enough to keep Alonso in place, at least in the short term.
For Madrid’s hierarchy, this match is about more than three points. It is about image, authority and control. The Champions League is part of the club’s identity; looking lost or outclassed on that stage is particularly painful.
In simple terms:
If Real Madrid crumble again, Will Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso becomes less a question and more an expectation.
What happens if Real Madrid responds?
There is another possible path.
If Madrid turns the tide against Manchester City – defending with intensity, showing collective discipline and finding their attacking rhythm – it would change the tone around the project:
- Alonso could argue that the Celta defeat was a turning point rather than the beginning of the end.
- The board would have a reason to hit “pause” on drastic decisions, at least until later in the season.
- The dressing room might rediscover some unity around the coach if they feel his plan can still deliver big nights.
Even then, the margin for error would remain tiny. A single result can buy time at Real Madrid, but it rarely ends the debate. Alonso would still be coaching under a microscope, game by game.
If Alonso is sacked, what are Madrid’s options?
Should the club decide that the cycle cannot be rescued, attention will immediately turn to possible replacements.
RMxtra understands that three profiles are naturally being discussed in and around the club:
Álvaro Arbeloa – the internal solution
Álvaro Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid defender and current coach within the club’s structure, stands out as the most realistic short-term option.
- He knows the institution and its demands.
- He has experience working with many of the club’s younger talents.
- He would likely accept an interim or caretaker role if asked.
Choosing Arbeloa would send a message of continuity and stability, leaning on the “Madrid DNA” while the club reassesses its long-term plan.
Zinedine Zidane – the legend always in the background
Zinedine Zidane’s name never fully leaves the discussion. His track record at the club, both as a player and as a coach, guarantees instant respect in the dressing room and the stands.
However, any return would depend on timing, personal preference and the clarity of the project offered. It is not as simple as picking up the phone; it would require a full alignment of interests and long-term vision.
A big external name
High-profile coaches on the European scene will always be linked with Real Madrid. Interest from the club’s side is one thing; availability and willingness from the coach’s side is another.
What’s clear is that if a change is made mid-season, the most realistic path would be:
- An internal or interim appointment (for example, Arbeloa),
- Followed by a broader evaluation in the summer.
Big picture: Is sacking Xabi Alonso the answer?
Beyond the emotion of a bad week, Real Madrid must ask themselves a deeper question: Does changing the coach now truly solve the underlying problems?
- The injury crisis will still be there for whoever sits on the bench.
- The squad’s balance, especially in defence, will not magically correct itself overnight.
- The pressure to win immediately in multiple competitions will remain exactly the same.
On the other hand, if the club feels the connection between coach and dressing room is broken beyond repair, and if performances continue to slide, then delaying a decision can be just as risky.
For now, all roads lead to one night under the Bernabéu lights. Manchester City arrive knowing they are not just playing for points; they are walking into a storm of tension, expectation and history.
Whether this becomes the night that saves Xabi Alonso or the one that ends his time in the Real Madrid dugout will define the next chapter of the 2025/26 season.
One thing is certain: Will Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso is no longer a hypothetical debate – it is the central storyline of the club’s immediate future, and RMxtra will be with you every step of the way.