Alonso Navigating a Fine Tightrope at Real Madrid Amidst Player Backing.

No forward in Los Blancos' history had gone scoreless for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was unleashed and he had a statement to send, performed for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had not scored in an extended drought and was starting only his fifth appearance this campaign, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Manchester City. Then he spun and charged towards the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the coach in the spotlight for whom this could signal an profound liberation.

“This is a challenging time for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Performances aren’t coming off and I aimed to show the public that we are united with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the lead had been lost, another loss ensuing. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso remarked. That can happen when you’re in a “sensitive” situation, he elaborated, but at least Madrid had responded. Ultimately, they could not engineer a recovery. Endrick, on as a substitute having played 11 minutes all season, struck the crossbar in the final seconds.

A Reserved Judgment

“It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to hold onto his role. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was perceived internally. “Our performance proved that we’re supporting the coach: we have performed creditably, offered 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so judgment was reserved, sentencing delayed, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon.

A Distinct Kind of Setback

Madrid had been overcome at home for the second time in four days, perpetuating their poor form to two wins in eight, but this seemed a little different. This was Manchester City, as opposed to a La Liga opponent. Simplified, they had competed with intensity, the simplest and most harsh charge not levelled at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a converted penalty, nearly earning something at the end. There were “a lot of very good things” about this showing, the manager said, and there could be “no blame” of his players, not this time.

The Stadium's Muted Response

That was not always the complete picture. There were periods in the latter period, as frustration grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At full time, a portion of supporters had repeated that, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But for the most part, there was a quiet stream to the subway. “We understand that, we accept it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso added: “It’s nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were moments when they applauded too.”

Squad Unity Remains Firm

“I feel the support of the players,” Alonso affirmed. And if he backed them, they stood by him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a rapprochement, discussions: the coach had listened to them, maybe more than they had adapted to him, reaching common ground not exactly in the center.

How lasting a remedy that is is still an unresolved issue. One little exchange in the after-game press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to stick to his principles, Alonso had allowed that implication to hang there, responding: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.”

A Starting Point of Resistance

Above all though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they publicly backed him. Part of it may have been for show, done out of duty or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The intensity with which they played had been too – even if there is a danger of the most fundamental of expectations somehow being elevated as a kind of success.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a plan, that their mistakes were not his doing. “In my view my teammate Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The key is [for] the players to change the approach. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have seen a difference.”

Jude Bellingham, asked if they were behind the coach, also answered in numbers: “100%.”

“We persist in striving to solve it in the locker room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be helpful so it is about attempting to resolve it in there.”

“In my opinion the manager has been superb. I myself have a excellent connection with him,” Bellingham stated. “Following the run of games where we drew a few, we had some very productive conversations behind the scenes.”

“Every situation concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, possibly referring as much about poor form as everything.