Alonso Navigating a Thin Line at Madrid Even With Squad Endorsement.

No attacker in Real Madrid’s annals had endured without a goal for as such a duration as Rodrygo, but eventually he was freed and he had a statement to deliver, performed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in an extended drought and was commencing only his fifth appearance this campaign, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the opening goal against the English champions. Then he turned and ran towards the bench to hug Xabi Alonso, the boss in the spotlight for whom this could signal an profound relief.

“It’s a difficult moment for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Things aren’t coming off and I sought to demonstrate people that we are united with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo spoke, the lead had been taken from them, another loss ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso remarked. That can happen when you’re in a “sensitive” condition, he elaborated, but at least Madrid had responded. On this occasion, they could not pull off a turnaround. Endrick, introduced off the bench having played a handful of minutes all season, struck the woodwork in the dying moments.

A Reserved Judgment

“It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo said. The dilemma was whether it would be enough for Alonso to retain his role. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was perceived internally. “Our performance proved that we’re behind the manager: we have given a good account, given 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so judgment was postponed, sentencing pending, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon.

A Different Kind of Loss

Madrid had been overcome at home for the second match in four days, extending their poor form to two wins in eight, but this was a somewhat distinct. This was Manchester City, as opposed to a domestic opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the easiest and most harsh criticism not directed at them on this night. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a penalty, coming close to salvaging something at the end. There were “numerous of very good things” about this performance, the head coach argued, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, not this time.

The Stadium's Muted Reception

That was not entirely the full story. There were periods in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the final whistle, some of supporters had repeated that, although there was in addition sporadic clapping. But primarily, there was a subdued stream to the subway. “It's to be expected, we accept it,” Rodrygo noted. Alonso remarked: “There's nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were instances when they applauded too.”

Squad Unity Remains Firm

“I sense the backing of the players,” Alonso affirmed. And if he backed them, they stood by him too, at least in front of the cameras. There has been a rapprochement, discussions: the coach had listened to them, maybe more than they had accommodated him, finding a point not quite in the compromise.

Whether durable a fix that is remains an open question. One little exchange in the after-game press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to stick to his principles, Alonso had permitted that idea to linger, replying: “I share a good connection with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is saying.”

A Starting Point of Reaction

Most importantly though, he could be content that there was a resistance, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they defended him. This support may have been theatrical, done out of obligation or self-preservation, but in this climate, it was significant. The effort with which they played had been too – even if there is a danger of the most basic of expectations somehow being elevated as a type of success.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a strategy, that their mistakes were not his responsibility. “I believe my teammate 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 shift.”

Jude Bellingham, questioned if they were supporting the coach, also replied with a figure: “100%.”

“We persist in attempting to work it out in the dressing room,” he continued. “We understand that the [outside] noise will not be productive so it is about trying to resolve it in there.”

“In my opinion the gaffer has been excellent. I personally have a strong relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the spell of games where we drew a few, we had some honest conversations among ourselves.”

“Every situation ends in the end,” Alonso philosophized, perhaps talking as much about adversity as his own predicament.