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Football Insider

Don't sack Xabi Alonso! Why Real Madrid boss must be given time

Amid growing speculation surrounding Xabi Alonso's future at Real Madrid, the pressure mounts as the club faces Manchester City in the Champions League showdown. Should Madrid dismiss the former midfielder turned head coach? Let's delve into the debate.

Don't sack Xabi Alonso! Why Real Madrid boss must be given time

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is under increasing pressure after a tough start to life back in the Spanish capital, with reports going so far as to claim the Los Blancos boss could be sacked if his side lose to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night. But is dismissing the former Madrid midfielder the right decision?According to reports, the hierarchy at Madrid have held a meeting over the future of their head coach and offered no guarantees that Alonso will remain in the job if the club's form does not improve. The Spanish giants have forfeited their lead at the top of La Liga, and now sit four points behind champions Barcelona. That is despite beating the Blaugrana 2-1 in the first El Clasico of the season back in October. With the pressure now ramped up, Alonso faces arguably his toughest test yet - Pep Guardiola. The City boss is certainly not going to take it easy on his fellow countryman, and he refused to be drawn into speculation about his future. Guardiola said: "I wish Xabi all the best, but his future is an answer I don't know. You all know the situation better than I do; I'm far removed from it. I haven't spoken with Florentino, and he hasn't told me that tomorrow will be Xabi's last match. If you don't win big games, things get difficult. But Xabi is in control of the situation and knows what this whole thing is about. My concern is seeing what we've done well. To beat Real Madrid in this competition, it's not enough to be better; you have to be much better."Alonso has a proven track record. He led Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title and their biggest success since claiming the 1993 German Cup. The 44-year-old then had the whole of Europe at his doorstep, begging him to join, but he chose Madrid, the club he represented 158 times during his career. There is no doubt that he is a world-class coach, and it would benefit Los Blancos to loosen the weight of expectation during his first term as manager. Understandably, it is not always that simple in Madrid, and failure is very rarely rewarded; however, despite their run of just one win in their last five games in La Liga, four points is not an insurmountable deficit to overturn in the second half of the season, and the club are better off putting their trust in Alonso, rather than ripping his project up and starting again.One of Alonso's biggest threats is managing the ego-driven squad Madrid currently possesses. Sometimes, too many big personalities can cause more harm than good, and given time, the Spaniard can drive out the unwanted crop and replace them with players he knows will thrive in his system. Fans have already seen him clash with Vinicius Junior, but Alonso must also contend with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Endrick. Three of the five mentioned have been linked with moves away from Madrid; perhaps that is the action needed to give the manager a stronger grip over his team.Arsenal are the ultimate example of a club who are being rewarded for their patience and trust in the process. Madrid are not exactly battling relegation, although you could argue that with the quality of their team, challenging on all fronts is the bare minimum. After a few short months, it is incredibly hard to gauge an idea of how well things are going under new leadership, especially when that person is taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, a man who was given four years to deliver, and did not always manage it. If Madrid fans can take anything away from the opening months of the 2025-26 campaign, let it be the big wins rather than the losses. Victories over Barcelona and Juventus are clear indicators of what the team can be; it might just require a bit of patience in the short-term.What do you think? Should Madrid sack Alonso if they lose to Madrid in Wednesday night's blockbuster Champions League clash? Cast your vote in the poll below!

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Xabi Alonso's Track Record and Challenges

Xabi Alonso boasts an impressive track record, having led Bayer Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory before making a mark in Madrid. The pressure on Alonso has escalated, with reports hinting at his possible departure if results don't improve. Managing a star-studded Madrid side poses its own challenges, but with time, Alonso can reshape the team to align with his vision.

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The Importance of Patience and Trust

Patience and trust in the process have proven fruitful for clubs like Arsenal, reaping rewards of stability and growth. Real Madrid, despite recent setbacks, should consider the long-term benefits of persisting with Alonso at the helm. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will a successful Madrid team under new leadership.

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Looking Beyond Short-Term Setbacks

While recent results might paint a challenging picture for Alonso and Real Madrid, focusing on notable victories over strong opponents like Barcelona and Juventus sheds light on the team's potential. It's crucial for fans and the club to see the bigger picture and allow Alonso the time to implement his strategies effectively.

Published on Dec 10, 2025