Under pressure, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso stressed that the situation he finds himself in could change quickly ahead of a potentially crucial Champions League match against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Los Blancos have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions, losing 2-0 to Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday. The Spanish media report that Alonso will be fired if his team suffers a defeat against Pep Guardiola’s team.
«This is a team, a club, we are united, and if you are coach of Real Madrid you must be ready to face these situations calmly, with unity and responsibility,» Alonso told reporters on Tuesday.
«I’m really looking forward to what’s to come, and that starts tomorrow. We know this can change, from the anger that was normally there (on Sunday), to the excitement about it (towards City)…
“For better or worse, things can change quickly in football, your perspective can change, and that’s where we find ourselves.”
Madrid put in one of their best performances under Alonso last week, beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at San Mames before collapsing at home to Celta.
READ | Can Alonso turn things around before Real Madrid versus Manchester City in the Champions League?
Alonso said his team is confident it can beat Man City and superstar Erling Haaland at the Bernabeu to strengthen its position in the league stage, where it currently sits fifth.
“We are mentally ready for what is to come, the team is united, we are all convinced that we can win tomorrow,” Alonso continued.
“We have to play with good speed and intensity, we have to compete, there is no doubt about that.”
Alonso said “yes” when asked if he had the support of all his players, evidenced by the words of midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who defended his coach.
«In the match against Vigo, the coach had a good plan, but it is the players who play on the field,» said the France international.
“If we play at our level we have a better chance of winning these kinds of games. If we lose 2-0 it means we have had a problem on the pitch, the intensity and technical errors.
«So it’s not the coach’s fault, we have to improve and we will.»
Published on December 9, 2025
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(742x210:744x212)/meghan-markle-thomas-markle-120525-2-e3d9182a3d0048119360fa8b36aeec9e.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Meghan Markle enviará una nota a su padre Thomas Markle tras la amputación de su pierna")
