Alonso Walking a Precarious Tightrope at Real Madrid Amidst Squad Backing.

No attacker in Real Madrid’s record books had gone failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but eventually he was freed and he had a declaration to send, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had been goalless in an extended drought and was beginning only his fifth game this campaign, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Manchester City. Then he wheeled and charged towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could signal an even greater release.

“This is a difficult time for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Performances aren't working out and I aimed to demonstrate the public that we are together with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the advantage had been taken from them, a setback taking its place. City had reversed the score, going 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “delicate” situation, he added, but at least Madrid had responded. Ultimately, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played a handful of minutes all season, hit the bar in the final seconds.

A Delayed Verdict

“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo said. The question was whether it would be enough for Alonso to keep his job. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was felt privately. “We have shown that we’re behind the coach: we have performed creditably, offered 100%,” Courtois added. And so the final decision was withheld, sentencing pending, with games against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A Different Form of Loss

Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their uninspiring streak to just two victories in eight, but this felt a somewhat distinct. This was Manchester City, as opposed to a La Liga opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the most obvious and most harsh accusation not directed at them on this night. With eight men out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a spot-kick, coming close to earning something at the final whistle. There were “many of very good things” about this performance, the manager said, and there could be “no blame” of his players, not this time.

The Bernabéu's Ambivalent Response

That was not completely the complete picture. There were spells in the closing 45 minutes, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the conclusion, some of supporters had done so again, although there was likewise sporadic clapping. But for the most part, there was a subdued procession to the subway. “We understand that, we accept it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso added: “There's nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were times when they applauded too.”

Dressing Room Unity Stands Evident

“I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso said. And if he stood by them, they supported him too, at least in front of the public. There has been a unification, talks: the coach had listened to them, arguably more than they had embraced him, finding common ground not precisely in the middle.

How lasting a fix that is remains an unresolved issue. One seemingly minor moment in the after-game press conference seemed notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to do things his way, Alonso had allowed that implication to linger, replying: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he understands what he is saying.”

A Foundation of Resistance

Most importantly though, he could be satisfied that there was a resistance, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they publicly backed him. Part of it may have been performative, done out of duty or self-interest, but in this climate, it was significant. The effort with which they played had been too – even if there is a risk of the most basic of standards somehow being elevated as a form of success.

In the build-up, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a plan, that their failings were not his responsibility. “I believe my teammate Aurélien put it perfectly in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The sole solution is [for] the players to improve the mindset. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have observed a shift.”

Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were behind the coach, also responded in numbers: “100%.”

“We persist in trying to work it out in the changing room,” he said. “We know that the [outside] noise will not be beneficial so it is about attempting to sort it out in there.”

“Personally, I feel the manager has been great. I personally have a excellent relationship with him,” Bellingham concluded. “Following the run of games where we were held a few, we had some very productive conversations internally.”

“Every situation concludes in the end,” Alonso philosophized, perhaps referring as much about poor form as everything.