Real Madrid are facing a trophyless season and are paying the price for the poor decision to sack Alonso
Real Madrid had the best man for the job in Xabi Alonso but are now struggling to find a replacement.
When Real Madrid started the season with Xabi Alonso – the most coveted young coach in world football – at the helm, few would have expected to go into April with the realistic prospect of a trophyless campaign.
Alonso’s arrival in Madrid was rushed, he was brought in against his will because of the Club World Cup in the United States. The run to the semi-finals was seen as a draw, and even the 4-0 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain in the final was seen as a reminder that the team was lacking in key areas rather than less under its new manager.
Limited time on the training ground ahead of the season that starts in August has not seemed to hinder Alonso’s Madrid, who have started with 13 wins from 14 games in all competitions.
The loss of the Clasico and the row with Vinicius Jr are strange things
Unsurprisingly, it was the penalty shootout in that series that marked the beginning of the end, a display of petulance from Vinicius Jr towards Alonso after he was sent off in the 2-1 Clasico defeat to Barcelona leading to widespread speculation that all was not well behind the scenes.
At a club like Madrid, and the constant scrutiny that comes with it, it’s very hard to focus on the truth when the rumors start flying.
Vinicius Jr’s statement in which he apologized to everyone, except Alonso, only increased speculation that influential people in the dressing room were not on the sidelines.
Victory over Valencia was written over the cracks but two wins in eight games meant the former Leverkusen manager was always on the upswing.
He survived Christmas but the ax fell following the Super Cup final defeat by Barca with reports that he rowed with Kylian Mbappe and president Florentino Perez on either side of the game in Saudi Arabia. After 233 days, Alonso was gone. Looking back, he paid the price for not managing two of the most influential people at the club.
Madrid rushed to appoint Arbeloa
Rather than take a step back and take time to explore other options, Perez moved quickly to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa, promoting the former defender from his post in charge of the B team, Castilla.
Even then there is no official announcement regarding Arbeloa’s contract. Was he a temporary solution or the man Perez believed could lead the team for the next few years?
Desperation set in and the situation improved when Arbeloa’s first game in charge ended in a humiliating Copa defeat to Segunda Division Albacete.
Fast forward three months and there has been no noticeable improvement in Madrid’s fortunes.
They were four points behind Barcelona in the title race when Alonso left. They are now seven games away with only eight games to go. For Barca to lose.
Every time they gather some momentum, they fall into inexplicably poor performance. Osasuna away, Getafe at home and, at the weekend, Real Mallorca away.
Even the Champions League, the salvation of many Madrid coaches before Arbeloa, looks a distant dream with a 2-1 defeat at home to Bayern Munich last night meaning progress to the semi-finals is now a long way off.
In retrospect, to make things easier, Madrid would have stuck better to Alonso and promised to support him in moving the players firmly against the high style, high pressing style. If that meant losing Vinicius and others then so be it.
The rest left Madrid without wheels and a team that is clearly not good enough to compete with Barca, and they are not the best teams in Europe.
Real Madrid need to fix it after the mistakes of the past
The team needs to be reorganized, the problem is who can manage it?
The list of managers available at the end of the season is long but not many are suitable for the Bernabeu. Zinedine Zidane will not return for a third term and will take over as France manager. Xavi is not starting for obvious reasons and Enzo Maresca seems bound for Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp ticks many boxes but does he really have the heart for the all-consuming role?
That leaves the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Andoni Iraola. Good management but ‘good’ enough for Real Madrid?
What they need is someone who knows the club – perhaps a former player – who has proven himself elsewhere and is young enough to take the club forward and build a dynasty.
Anyone fit the bill?
The truth is that they had a perfect person but they threw him aside when they started having problems. Madrid’s loss will likely be Liverpool’s gain.
