Real Madrid have reportedly decided against sacking manager Xabi Alonso in the immediate aftermath of a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo, despite the team's alarming dip in form. The shock loss at the Bernabeu on Sunday night, which saw Madrid finish with nine men, has intensified scrutiny on the former midfielder, but the club's hierarchy is viewing Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Manchester City as the pivotal test.
Bernabeu Boos After Historic Defeat
The atmosphere turned toxic at the Santiago Bernabeu as Williot Swedberg's second-half brace secured a historic victory for the visitors. Celta Vigo, who were in the bottom half of La Liga and had not beaten Real Madrid in the league for 22 games, recorded their first win over Los Blancos since May 2014. The home side's misery was compounded by red cards for defenders Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras, leading to the team being booed off the pitch by their own supporters.
This result means Real Madrid have now won just one of their last five league matches. They are set to slip to third in the table if Villarreal win their game in hand, sitting four points behind arch-rivals Barcelona. The defeat marked a new low in a run that has seen the club win only two of their last seven games across all competitions.
Alonso Under Fire But Granted Reprieve
Considerable expectations were placed on Xabi Alonso when he was appointed as Carlo Ancelotti's successor in the summer. The Liverpool legend arrived with a stellar reputation after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season. However, the recent slump has sparked a crisis in the Spanish capital.
Alonso confirmed earlier last week that he had held talks with club president Florentino Perez regarding the team's poor performances. Despite the intense pressure, Spanish publication AS reports that the shocking loss to Celta Vigo is not expected to affect Alonso's 'immediate future'. Instead, the Champions League showdown with Manchester City is being viewed internally as a 'crucial test' for the under-fire manager.
Manager's Defiant Response
Addressing the media after the match, Alonso struck a defiant tone, attempting to shift focus immediately to the European challenge. 'We are all angry, evidently this was not the game we wanted, it was not the result we wanted,' he stated. 'We have to try and turn the page as quickly as possible. It's only three points. We have the Champions League game against City to react in, and get this bad taste out of our mouths.'
When directly questioned if his job was at risk ahead of the City clash, Alonso remained focused on the pitch: 'We're playing for three Champions League points, that's it. We're in a good position [in the Champions League], that's what's at stake. We want to perform well and play better than we did today.' He emphasised unity within the squad, acknowledging the high demands at the club but insisting the team must look forward.
Manchester City Lie in Wait
The timing of Real Madrid's collapse could hardly be worse, with the reigning European champions, Manchester City, arriving in Madrid on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's side warmed up for the fixture with a 3-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium, their third successive league win which has moved them to second in the table.
City will be seeking revenge after losing 6-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid in last season's Champions League. Guardiola, the former Barcelona boss, acknowledged the difficulty of playing at the Bernabeu but expressed confidence in his team's approach. 'It's never an easy place,' he said. 'We missed an opportunity against Leverkusen to be close but we are going to do our game... Hopefully we can play like we are. Always I wish when you go to play on the big stages is play like who we are.'
All eyes will now be on the Bernabeu this Wednesday night, where Xabi Alonso's short-term fate at Real Madrid could be decided not by a boardroom meeting, but by his team's performance against one of Europe's elite.
