Even though Real Madrid have not performed poorly at all this season, lately there have been question marks about the team, especially after a run of two back-to-back losses.
Coach Xabi Alonso appears to have lost a bit of grip in the dressing room, with the Spaniard not having the best of relationships with star player Vinicius Junior.
There is also a broader doubt creeping in about Alonso’s man-management. The coach, therefore, must find cohesion as Real Madrid look to resume their campaign after the international break.
Xabi Alonso’s goal before the Christmas break
As reported by AS, Alonso views the upcoming fixture list as a critical block to turn the tide and is expecting a strong response from his players.
With the international break concluding, Alonso is staring down a grueling marathon: nine matches in just 29 days ending with the Christmas break.
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid manager.
Is Xabi Alonso losing the Real Madrid dressing room? (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The objective is clear: Erase the bitter taste of the recent defeats to Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano and cement Madrid’s position across all competitions.
The schedule offers virtually no respite, averaging a match every 3.1 days. To make matters worse, six of these nine contests are away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The team faces hostile environments in those away matches, including a trip to Greece to face Olympiacos and a visit to San Mames against Athletic Bilbao.
The fixture list also includes heavyweight clashes against Manchester City and Girona, alongside a Copa del Rey opener against a lower-tier rival.
Despite the narrative of tension, the technical goals remain within reach. Alonso’s side currently holds a three-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga and sits seventh in the Champions League standings.
The priority is to ensure a Top-8 European finish and extend the domestic lead.