After much speculation surrounding Xabi Alonso and how he has lost his grip in the dressing room, Real Madrid appear to have recovered from the mini crisis.
This is largely thanks to an impressive 4-3 win over Olympiacos this week, where multiple players showed up for their team and more importantly, their coach.
Xabi Alonso is finding positives in his squad beyond just the headline stars and in fact, has been left impressed by character shown by a few select players.
Four players impress Xabi Alonso
According to Defensa Central, the Real Madrid manager has been pleasantly surprised by the attitude of four specific players in Andriy Lunin, Raul Asensio, Ferland Mendy, and Brahim Diaz.
Despite often starting games from the bench, these four players have shown exceptional character. The report states that they do not complain about their lack of minutes. Instead, they contribute fully and give their absolute best whenever they are called upon.
Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid
The likes of Lunin and Brahim haven’t complained about their role in the team. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Alonso reportedly believes that players like that are priceless. Their professionalism helps keep the squad competitive and allows the manager to trust his bench options during a long season.
This positive attitude reflects a wider improvement in the team’s atmosphere. After a rocky few weeks, relationships between the coaching staff and the players are now much better.
Thanks to several honest talks held in recent days, the group has resolved earlier misunderstandings. Everyone is now pulling in the same direction to stop media speculation from distracting the team.
Moreover, having reliable substitutes is crucial for Alonso, who likes to rotate his starting eleven and try different systems.
The team is currently top of La Liga and sitting in the top eight of the Champions League, thus meeting the main objectives so far.