No attacker in Real Madrid’s history had experienced scoreless for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but at last he was unleashed and he had a declaration to deliver, executed for public consumption. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in an extended drought and was commencing only his fifth game this season, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the advantage against the English champions. Then he spun and charged towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the manager on the edge for whom this could represent an even greater relief.
“This is a challenging moment for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Things are not going our way and I wanted to show people that we are together with the coach.”
By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the lead had been taken from them, a setback ensuing. City had come back, going 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso observed. That can occur when you’re in a “fragile” state, he continued, but at least Madrid had reacted. On this occasion, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, on as a substitute having played 11 minutes all season, struck the bar in the dying moments.
A Suspended Sentence
“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo conceded. The issue was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to retain his job. “That wasn't our perception [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 felt privately. “Our performance proved that we’re supporting the manager: we have played well, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so judgment was reserved, consequences delayed, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla imminent.
A More Credible Form of Loss
Madrid had been beaten at home for the second time in four days, continuing their recent run to two wins in eight, but this seemed a somewhat distinct. This was Manchester City, rather than a domestic opponent. Stripped down, they had shown fight, the easiest and most harsh charge not levelled at them this time. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a penalty, almost salvaging something at the final whistle. There were “numerous of very good things” about this showing, the boss argued, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, not this time.
The Stadium's Ambivalent Response
That was not always the case. There were spells in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At the conclusion, a section of supporters had done so again, although there was also some applause. But for the most part, there was a muted procession to the exits. “It's to be expected, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “It’s nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were instances when they applauded too.”
Dressing Room Unity Remains Firm
“I sense the support of the players,” Alonso said. And if he stood by them, they stood by him too, at least for the media. There has been a unification, conversations: the coach had listened to them, perhaps more than they had embraced him, meeting a point not quite in the middle.
Whether durable a solution that is is still an open question. One little moment in the after-game press conference appeared significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to stick to his principles, Alonso had allowed that idea to linger, responding: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is saying.”
A Starting Point of Reaction
Crucially though, he could be pleased that there was a resistance, a response. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they defended him. Some of this may have been theatrical, done out of professionalism or self-preservation, but in this climate, it was important. The intensity with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a risk of the most fundamental of standards somehow being framed as a form of achievement.
Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a vision, that their shortcomings were not his doing. “In my view my teammate Aurélien put it perfectly in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The key is [for] the players to improve the mindset. The attitude is the linchpin and today we have witnessed a change.”
Jude Bellingham, asked if they were with the coach, also responded with a figure: “100%.”
“We persist in striving to figure it out in the dressing room,” he continued. “We understand that the [outside] speculation will not be productive so it is about striving to fix it in there.”
“I think the coach has been excellent. I individually have a great rapport with him,” Bellingham added. “After the run of games where we drew a few, we had some honest conversations behind the scenes.”
“Every situation concludes in the end,” Alonso philosophized, perhaps referring as much about adversity as everything.
