Jorge Valdano Comments on the Xabi Alonso Situation Ahead Real Madrid vs Man City

Former Real Madrid player and coach, Jorge Valdano, has shared his thoughts on the criticism Xabi Alonso has received amid Los Blancos’ poor run of form. 

Valdano believes the players are primarily at fault, as they are not showing enough aggression on the pitch.

Real Madrid enjoyed a brisk start to the 2025/26 season, winning 13 of their first 14 games in all competitions.

At the end of October, they beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first El Clasico of the season, opening up a five-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table.

However, the winning run came to a halt in the first week of November, as they lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League.

Real Madrid have now won just two of their last seven games across competitions. They have suffered two defeats and drawn three games.

The most disappointing defeat of the lot came on Sunday, as Celta Vigo beat them 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Madrid were down to nine towards the end of the game. The referee showed five cards, including a straight red card to Alvaro Carreras in injury time.

After Carreras’ dismissal, Rodrygo furiously confronted the referee and was fortunate to avoid a second booking.

Valdano Backs Alonso Amid Real Madrid Sack Rumours

According to the Spanish press, the string of poor results has compromised Xabi Alonso’s position at the club. The club chiefs held an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday night, where the Spaniard’s future was discussed.

Following the meeting, it has been decided that Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Manchester City is a must-win for Alonso.

Discussing Alonso’s situation at Real Madrid, Jorge Valdano suggested that the players were responsible for Madrid’s shortcomings.

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“I consider Xabi Alonso a competent coach; it’s the players who aren’t running, not the coach,” Valdano told Movistar (via Mundo Deportivo).

“We need to activate the team’s aggression, and that’s up to the players. The coach has to maintain order, keep the players motivated… all of that is the coach’s job.

“But I was surprised that after such a complete performance in Bilbao, the team lacked any aggression and took so long to wake up.”

He continued:

“Only when the situation is desperate, when we’re losing 0-1, when a player is sent off, when things get complicated, do they activate another level of commitment in the match.”

Real Madrid’s Dressing Room Is Divided

Xabi Alonso’s problems reportedly stretch beyond the pitch. There have been rumours that the Spaniard has lost the dressing room, with players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Fede Valverde not backing him.

Kylian Mbappe, Arda Guler, and Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, are behind the manager, while Jude Bellingham has remained impartial.

Managing the dressing room has always been crucial to being successful at the Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane both excelled at it, while Jose Mourinho lost control after his wildly successful second season.

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Alonso is learning first-hand how crucial dressing room dynamics are. How important it is to manage the different egos inside the dressing room.

Unless he finds a way to unite the dressing room as his predecessors did, Alonso’s Real Madrid stint could end prematurely.