Xabi Alonso Treading a Precarious Tightrope at Madrid Even With Player Support.

No forward in the club's annals had experienced scoreless for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but eventually he was released and he had a declaration to send, executed for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had not scored in an extended drought and was starting only his fifth game this term, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the opening goal against Manchester City. Then he wheeled and sprinted towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could represent an more significant liberation.

“This is a tough time for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Results aren’t coming off and I wanted to show the public that we are together with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the advantage had been lost, another loss following. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can occur when you’re in a “delicate” state, he continued, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not complete a recovery. Endrick, brought on having played 11 minutes all season, struck the woodwork in the final seconds.

A Suspended Judgment

“It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to retain his position. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “Our performance proved that we’re with the coach: we have given a good account, given 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so judgment was postponed, consequences pending, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon.

A More Credible Type of Defeat

Madrid had been beaten at home for the second occasion in four days, perpetuating their recent run to a mere pair of successes in eight, but this seemed a more respectable. This was Manchester City, rather than a lesser opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the simplest and most critical accusation not directed at them in this instance. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a converted penalty, nearly securing something at the final whistle. There were “numerous of very good things” about this performance, the boss stated, and there could be “no blame” of his players, on this occasion.

The Stadium's Muted Response

That was not entirely the case. There were spells in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At full time, a section of supporters had continued, although there was also sporadic clapping. But for the most part, there was a muted flow to the subway. “We understand that, we understand it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “This is nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were moments when they cheered too.”

Dressing Room Support Stands Firm

“I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he backed them, they supported him too, at least towards the public. There has been a rapprochement, conversations: the coach had listened to them, maybe more than they had adapted to him, meeting common ground not quite in the compromise.

Whether durable a fix that is is still an matter of debate. One seemingly minor exchange in the post-match press conference appeared telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that implication to linger, replying: “I have a good connection with Pep, we know each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.”

A Foundation of Resistance

Most importantly though, he could be content that there was a spirit, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they publicly backed him. This support may have been performative, done out of duty or mutual survival, but in this climate, it was meaningful. The commitment with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a danger of the most elementary of standards somehow being elevated as a type of achievement.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a strategy, that their mistakes were not his responsibility. “I think my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The only way is [for] the players to alter the attitude. The attitude is the linchpin and today we have seen a change.”

Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also replied in numbers: “100%.”

“We’re still attempting to solve it in the dressing room,” he said. “It's clear that the [outside] speculation will not be helpful so it is about attempting to resolve it in there.”

“I think the gaffer has been excellent. I personally have a excellent connection with him,” Bellingham stated. “Following the run of games where we were held a few, we had some very productive conversations among ourselves.”

“All things passes in the end,” Alonso philosophized, possibly referring as much about a difficult spell as everything.