Xabi Alonso's return to Real Madrid as manager has been given its biggest assessment yet after Los Blancos fell to a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club.
Alex Berengeur gave the Basque side the lead before Kylian Mbappe saw his penalty saved by Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham equalised to silence the San Mames before Gorka Guruzeta grabbed the winner. The result piles further pressure on Carlo Ancelotti after recent Champions League defeats to AC Milan and Liverpool. Top Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has revealed a lack of trust from the Real Madrid hierarchy is "starting to be felt" by Ancelotti, with rumours of Xabi Alonso replacing him continuing to swirl.
He revealed: "Of course the names of, especially, Xabi Alonso has been heard in the media in Madrid as a replacement for Ancelotti. Xabi Alonso has got possibly this year to go at Bayer Leverkusen, then after that if Real Madrid come it may be a really good possibility of him becoming the manager. Ancelotti is going through what he went through in his last year in his previous time at Real Madrid. But that is Real Madrid - they want to be at the top constantly and right now he does not seem to have enough collective answers."
Kylian Mbappe is consoled by Jude Bellingham after his penalty miss against Athletic de Bilbao. (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
As well as against Bilbao, Mbappe also missed a penalty at Anfield and Jude Bellingham stepped in to take a spot kick against Getafe in another La Liga match. Balague thinks a sharp drop in confidence is one issue for the 25-year-old France star, but he had his say on his relationship with his teammates.
He added: "Kylian Mbappe is part of the present and future of Real Madrid. And he will become, and you have seen already how good he is. He will become THAT player. It doesn't feel like he is impressing because he is not impressing. Against Athletic Club for instance he missed a penalty as he had done against Liverpool in the Champions League. Fourteen matches, eight goals and one assists - it is simply not enough.
"You wonder why is it not happening for him. It still feels like he is lacking confidence. Without Vinicius Jr you see more of an Mbappe of the one seen at PSG with runs on the left hand side and the centre as well. It is not fair to say he doesn't enjoy being a centre forward. Perhaps it is not his biggest strength he wants to participate more. When things work collectively he is going to score so many goals. But that click with the team has not happened yet.
"Against Athletic Club you saw what was wrong with the team. When Athletic Club came off tracks they were biting, they were aggressive in the last third and stopped Madrid from building from the back. And they did not have answers to that. When the ball got to the midfielders there was no movement off the ball. Even the biggest clubs Liverpool, Arsenal, [Manchester] City, Juventus, Bayern - they all have a lot of strategies to get the ball from the back but also when it gets to the MF and last third. So when the ball gets to Mbappe there has not enough defenders that have been cleared, not enough space in front of him, not enough 1v1s. Not enough football that plays to his strengths. They need more."