Exposed and undermined, Alonso could not control Madrid’s rampant egos 2
KIKO HUESCA/EPA Xabi Alonso looks on during Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City last month Why Alonso’s Real reign ended within seven months Axed head coach was let down at every turn, as players and the president called the shots and results duly suffered Vinícius Júnior’s anger, deeper than one game, eclipsed all else and he was not the only one 14 Jan 2026 - The Guardian Sid Lowe Pep Guardiola sat in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu and told Xabi Alonso to do it his way but around here, he knows, it tends not to work out like that, which is precisely why he said so. Saying it is one thing, doing it another, doing it successfully something else entirely and a month and day after being offered that advice, handed that defence, Alonso was gone. On Monday afternoon, not long after landing from Saudi Arabia, a meeting was held at Valdebebas and then came the statement, short and unsentimental. He was a “legend” as a player, but no longer coach at Real Madrid. ...