Senior Real Madrid Players Unhappy with Xabi Alonso’s Approach
- Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso secured his first major home victory since returning to the Bernabéu, guiding his side to a 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clásico
- The triumph was overshadowed by signs of unrest within the squad, most notably Vinicius Junior’s visible frustration late in the match after being substituted
- Ghanaian coach and analyst slams Vinicius for his antics, and believes Alonso will sideline him due to his 'bad behaviour'
Real Madrid’s players reportedly believe Xabi Alonso has an inflated sense of self, with some claiming he “thinks he’s Pep Guardiola.”
Several high-profile stars are said to be frustrated with his demanding training methods, fuelling rumours of a growing rift between the squad and their new manager.
Source: Getty Images
Tensions are believed to have reached a breaking point during Sunday’s 2-1 El Clásico win over Barcelona, when Vinicius Junior and Alonso had a heated exchange, though the winger has since apologised in an attempt to ease the situation.
The Brazilian was left frustrated when Alonso substituted him with nearly 20 minutes remaining, sparking an angry outburst on the touchline.
Below is an explainer of Vinicius' outburst from Sky Sports:
Although Real Madrid’s win kept them at the top of La Liga, the decision has reportedly intensified tensions between the pair, with their relationship now described as an “unsustainable conflict.”
Vinicius is said to be reconsidering his future at the club, while Alonso is reportedly “seriously angered” by the winger’s reaction.
According to The Athletic, the forward is not alone in questioning the manager’s approach. Many players, long accustomed to Carlo Ancelotti’s relaxed style, are struggling to adapt to Alonso’s stricter, more authoritarian methods.
The report adds that upon taking charge before the Club World Cup, Alonso discovered a dressing room plagued by “many bad habits.”
Source: Getty Images
Early in his tenure, Alonso held a team meeting to introduce a new set of rules, emphasising punctuality, intensity, and commitment in training, while making it clear that no player’s spot in the lineup was guaranteed.
Ghanaian pundit slams Vinicius
Meanwhile, Ghanaian analyst and gaffer Christopher Nimley has slammed Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior for his on-field antics, insisting that Xabi Alonso will not tolerate such behaviour.
Speaking in an interview with YEN.com.gh, Coach Nimley criticised the Brazilian winger’s temperament, describing it as a liability rather than an asset to his team.
“Vinícius is undoubtedly a fantastic player, but his attitude on the pitch is a big problem,” Nimley said. “He spends too much time arguing with referees and provoking opponents. That kind of behaviour will not sit well with Xabi Alonso.”
The outspoken coach further suggested that Alonso, known for his discipline and calm demeanour during his playing days, could drop Vinícius if the winger fails to change his ways.
“Alonso won’t entertain nonsense,” Nimley continued. “He believes in professionalism and respect. If Vinícius doesn’t fix his attitude, I’m sure Alonso will sideline him, no matter how talented he is.”
Rift between Real Madrid players and Alonso
However, his strict approach and demanding playing style have reportedly left several Real Madrid stars feeling frustrated.
'He thinks he's Pep Guardiola, but for now he's just Xabi,' an individual close to a player told The Athletic.
'Some of them have won so much without doing these things that when these have been imposed on them, they have complained,' a source close to the players reportedly said.
'It's no secret, some cases have been public. It's normal, especially with those who were untouchable.'
However, Vinicius Jr’s public apology may help calm the situation.
“Today, I want to apologize to all Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clásico,” he posted on social media.
“As I have already done personally during today’s training session, I also want to apologise once again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes my passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team.
"My competitive nature comes from the love I have for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for Real Madrid, just as I have since my first day.”
Meanwhile, Alonso has also introduced new measures to curb dressing-room leaks. Under Carlo Ancelotti, team news frequently surfaced in the media hours before kick-off.
This season, that has changed; the club now announces its lineup on social media two hours before matches, and Alonso has restricted the presence of players’ families and friends at the training ground.
Previously, entourages had free access to Real Madrid Sports City, but these tighter controls have reportedly caused some discontent within the squad.
Still, despite whispers of internal tension, Alonso has guided Madrid to an impressive start to his debut campaign in charge.
The club sits atop LaLiga and leads its Champions League group with three wins from three matches.
How Vinicius tormented Barcelona in Clásico
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Vinicius put on a brilliant display as Real Madrid edged past Barcelona on Sunday, October 26.
The 25-year-old dazzled fans with his pace and skill, leaving Pedri and the Catalan defence struggling to keep up.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
