Alonso Walking a Thin Line at Madrid Even With Player Endorsement.

No forward in the club's history had endured scoreless for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but finally he was released and he had a declaration to send, executed for public consumption. The Brazilian, who had not scored in nine months and was commencing only his fifth appearance this term, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the advantage against Manchester City. Then he turned and charged towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the manager in the spotlight for whom this could prove an more significant relief.

“It’s a difficult time for him, similar to how it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Results aren’t coming off and I aimed to show the public that we are together with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the lead had been taken from them, a setback ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso observed. That can occur when you’re in a “fragile” situation, he continued, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not engineer a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played 11 minutes all season, struck the crossbar in the final seconds.

A Reserved Judgment

“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The question was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to keep his position. “We didn't view it as [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 demonstrated that we’re supporting the coach: we have played well, given 100%,” Courtois added. And so the final decision was postponed, any action delayed, with games against Alavés and Sevilla imminent.

A Different Kind of Defeat

Madrid had been beaten at home for the second occasion in four days, extending their recent run to two wins in eight, but this was a little different. This was a European powerhouse, as opposed to a domestic opponent. Stripped down, they had competed with intensity, the most obvious and most damning charge not directed at them this time. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a penalty, nearly salvaging something at the death. There were “many of very good things” about this performance, the head coach argued, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, not this time.

The Stadium's Mixed Reaction

That was not always the case. There were periods in the latter period, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At the conclusion, a section of supporters had continued, although there was in addition some applause. But mostly, there was a muted procession to the exits. “We understand that, we understand it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “This is nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were instances when they cheered too.”

Dressing Room Support Remains Strong

“I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he stood by them, they stood by him too, at least in front of the public. There has been a coming together, talks: the coach had considered them, arguably more than they had adapted to him, finding somewhere not exactly in the compromise.

How lasting a solution that is is still an unresolved issue. One little exchange in the after-game press conference felt notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to stick to his principles, Alonso had permitted that implication to remain unanswered, answering: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he knows what he is saying.”

A Starting Point of Reaction

Above all though, he could be satisfied that there was a spirit, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they stood up for him. Part of it may have been performative, done out of obligation or self-preservation, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The effort with which they played had been too – even if there is a danger of the most fundamental of requirements somehow being elevated as a kind of success.

In the build-up, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a vision, that their shortcomings were not his doing. “In my view my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The key is [for] the players to change the mindset. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have seen a shift.”

Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were with the coach, also responded with a figure: “100%.”

“We are continuing attempting to solve it in the changing room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] speculation will not be productive so it is about striving to resolve it in there.”

“Personally, I feel the manager has been great. I individually have a excellent rapport with him,” Bellingham stated. “Following the run of games where we were held a few, we had some really great conversations behind the scenes.”

“All things ends in the end,” Alonso mused, perhaps speaking as much about adversity as everything.