Despite the loss to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday night, there was belief that Xabi Alonso would be given time at Real Madrid to get things back on track.
However, a day later, the Spanish capital club decided to swing the axe and part ways with the 44-year-old tactician, replacing him with his former teammate Alvaro Arbeloa.
The fallout has been controversial, with reports emerging about how Alonso had lost a part of the dressing room while the management was also not happy with some aspects.
Xabi Alonso’s refusal over Pintus hastened his dismissal
Another major factor that led to Real Madrid dismissing Alonso, as per Mundo Deportivo, was that the now former coach refused to incorporate Antonio Pintus as first-team fitness coach.
Alonso firmly defended his own fitness coach and trusted member of his staff, Ismael Camenfort, and this uncompromising stance proved decisive, as the club were very dissatisfied with the physical preparation of the first team.
This dissatisfaction stemmed from two main issues. First, the team frequently fades after the 70th minute of matches. Second, there has been a persistent injury crisis affecting the first-team squad since the start of the season.
Antonio Pintus, physical trainer of Real Madrid
Back in the Madrid first-team coaching staff. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Within the club, there had never been full confidence in the working group that Alonso brought with him to Real Madrid, which was seen as very young and inexperienced.
Meanwhile, Pintus, who was removed from first-team duties towards the end of the last season, remains a trusted hand of club president Florentino Perez.
The Italian had taken over a more administrative role since then, but given the team’s fitness and injury issues this term, the idea of his return as the first-team fitness trainer was being pushed by the higher-ups.
However, Alonso was unwilling to add Pintus to his staff full-time, leading to Perez & co. opting to move on from the Basque tactician.
With Alvaro Arbeloa having taken over, Pintus has been added to his backroom staff and was already seen working with the players on Tuesday before the Copa del Rey clash vs Albacete.