Alonso perhaps set himself up by announcing the return of “rock and roll” when he first arrived. He meant a side with a clear identity, that would press with aggression, attack with the impact of adrumbeat, and have players stepping up with the personality and sharpness of an electric guitar riff.
Despite all the signs and previous warnings, Alonso didn’t realise just how hard it would be to achieve the most difficult thing in football – getting everyone to think as one.
He knew things would be complicated. Ancelotti had already warned him, privately and publicly, that certain ideas were prepared during the week but never applied on the pitch.
Ancelotti went even further in conversations with those close to him – this was the most difficult dressing room of his career. Not because players are bad people, but because there are so many conflicting interests. Kylian Mbappe thinks about his records. Vinicius worries about not losing his authority in the team. Federico Valverde wants to play in midfield and doesn’t yet have the maturity expected from a captain.
On the day of the match at Liverpool, those who make the decisions at Real Madrid were openly expressing full support and admiration for what Alonso was doing – modernising the team, making it dynamic and versatile.
He had just beaten Barcelona and was on a run of 13 wins in 14 matches. But after the defeat at Anfield, followed by draws away to Rayo and Elche, the pressure became relentless.
Stories began to leak out that there were too many videos, that the demands were too high, that the players were expected to be robots. The typical clash between a coach with a clear methodology and players who want to rely on instinct.
Problems had been accumulated.
Alonso was convinced Jude Bellingham would help him as he knew English players tend to submit to the general idea. The problem has been his position. Jude is a second forward, a finisher. If used as a midfielder, he is not comfortable but will work hard to adapt. That transitional period makes for a player that doesn’t give as much as he would like to. That creates frustration and doubts.
Alonso would have liked Martin Zubimendi because he believes Madrid lack a midfielder who can give them rhythm and organisation. But he didn’t get him and had to work with physical, dynamic midfielders who are far more comfortable with quick transitions than with positional football and short, patient passing that he also wanted to implement. Arda Guler is trying to direct the team’s play but he is more of a forward than a midfielder.
If Mbappe doesn’t score, nobody does: Vini has now gone 11 games without a goal, Rodrygo 33.
Injuries – mostly in defence – have forced Alonso to field 20 different line-ups in 21 matches.
Eder Militao is Real Madrid’s latest casualty and the Brazil defender is expected to be out for three to four months with a torn hamstring suffered against Vigo.
