In the concluded La Liga Round 13, Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Elche. Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso’s position is causing unrest. The Spanish coach’s working environment, tactical decisions, and dressing room relations have become the focus of attention for Real Madrid’s senior management and the outside world.
On the Dressing Room Atmosphere After Drawing With Elche
A member of the coaching staff revealed to Camel Live: “You can truly feel an atmosphere of pessimism in the air. At the start of the season, everyone was full of excitement, but as things stand now, this excitement may actually be detrimental to us. It’s almost impossible to see immediate results, and the expectations for us at this club have always been extremely high.”
Another source, who has close relationships with several first-team players and a deep understanding of the current tense situation in the dressing room, disclosed: “The team is in complete disarray right now.”
More sources close to the first team stated that several “key” Real Madrid players “reacted extremely violently” to the result against Elche. Another source also close to Real Madrid noted that the team currently needs to learn to better “control the game tempo.”
Real Madrid still holds the leading position, and this can actually be regarded as a transitional season. From the disappointment of Carlo Ancelotti’s final season in charge to Xabi Alonso’s new philosophy and ambitions, the latter has brought some crucial changes to the club, which the club also appreciates.
Alonso’s current situation is quite intriguing. In recent weeks, he has seemed increasingly frustrated. At the post-match press conference on Sunday, he was once again asked about the team’s morale, referring to the tense relations between him and key figures in the dressing room due to his lineup adjustments.
Alonso said: “The bond between us is growing stronger. We have spent more time together, communicated more, and understood each other better. We are in this together—we rejoice in victory and suffer in defeat.”
On Alonso’s Managerial Position
Real Madrid Club has made it clear that Alonso is the core leader of the club’s project, and his status surpasses any player—regardless of how outstanding these players are on the pitch or how important they are within the club’s structure. Despite Real Madrid’s poor results in the last three games (the league lead has narrowed from five points to just one, and they suffered their first defeat in the Champions League), the club’s trust in the Basque coach remains unwavering.
At the Valdebebas training ground, everyone firmly believes that Alonso, whom the club spent heavily to recruit last summer, is the ideal person to take charge of the team. In terms of results, the coach has indeed proven himself with practical actions: despite recent twists and turns and numerous doubts, he still leads the team with the ability to compete for two major championships (La Liga and Champions League), while also waiting for the 2026 Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey.
Real Madrid has always adhered to the principle of “the manager is the BOSS,” and under this principle, fully supports all decisions made by the coach. This includes the controversial rotation arrangement of Vinícius (who has been a substitute four times this season) and the experimentation with tactical formations (such as the five-man defensive system deployed against Elche last weekend). The club’s trust in the Basque coach’s professional competence stems from his short but brilliant coaching career—especially leading Bayer Leverkusen to win the Bundesliga title.
The club believes that the turbulence caused by recent consecutive draws (especially the two league games against Rayo Vallecano and Elche) is actually a normal situation. However, the club remains full of confidence in Alonso, who signed a three-year contract. After the departure of Ancelotti—the most decorated legendary coach in the club’s history—the board firmly believes that the Spanish coach is the most suitable leader to usher in a new era for Real Madrid. So far, the team’s results have confirmed the correctness of this decision.
