The arrival of the Spanish strategist marked a change of era at Real Madrid, but his commitment to discipline and control would have generated rifts with several team leaders.
Photo: EFE – FERNANDO VILLAR
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The victory against Barcelona last Sunday was more than a league victory for Real Madrid: it meant a respite for Xabi Alonsoquestioned in recent weeks due to the team's setbacks and the tensions that accumulate within the locker room. The 2-1 at the Bernabéu, which extended the white lead to five points over the current championarrived at the most opportune moment for the Basque coach, whose management has been object of debate since the tough 5-2 defeat against Atlético de Madrid.
That setback in the Madrid derby set off alarms in the club and unleashed criticism of the coach, who had just arrived last European summer, to replace Carlo Ancelotti. The blow not only affected the team's confidence, but revived doubts about its ability to compete in big games, a concern that had already emerged with the 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup.
The result against Barça not only relieved institutional pressure, but also helped to rebuild part of the bond between the coach and his players, a relationship that, according to various sources, go through moments of tension. Several first team players have shown discomfort with the methods and changes implemented since their arrival, especially due to the physical demands and discipline imposed on a daily basis.
From the beginning of his administration, Alonso made it clear that with him everyone should “work and run more,” without exceptions. That marked a change from the Ancelotti era, in which a more flexible and paternalistic atmosphere predominated, according to reports. The Athletic. The new coach introduced rules of behavior, punctuality and commitment in training, in addition to stricter control over schedules, video sessions and access to the locker room and facilities.
These transformations, designed to professionalize the internal dynamics, were not well received by everyone. According to people close to the group, some veteran players—accustomed to more permissive treatment—felt uncomfortable with the lack of freedom and what they interpreted as a loss of confidence in their experience. “Some have won everything without having to do it this way,” admitted a source quoted by The Athletic.
The contrast with the figure of Ancelotti also weighs. If the Italian was seen as a close, conversational and emotionally available coach, Alonso projects a more distant and methodical image. Some members of the locker room even perceive him as “too rigid”, although others value his tactical commitment and his desire to order the team. His more authoritarian style also includes reducing the presence of non-essential personnel during training or games, and limiting access to the locker room to family members and agents, something common in recent years.
One of the episodes that exposed internal tensions was Vinícius Júnior's angry reaction to being substituted in the Classic. The Brazilian left the field visibly upset, reflecting a climate where the coach's demands coexist with the frustration of some players who feel they have lost room for improvisation. Even so, the club highlights that the majority understands that it is an adaptation process and that the results – three victories in three Champions League games and the lead in LaLiga – support the direction.
In parallel, Alonso's coaching staff, made up of Sebastián Parrilla, Ismael Camenforte, Alberto Encinas and Beñat Labaien, has been key in the implementation of a new working method. Camenforte, former Barcelona physical trainer, introduced more rigorous prevention and load control routines than the previous onesgenerating some surprise among internal specialists. The staff insists that all measures seek to build a solid long-term foundation, and that the team needs time to assimilate the changes.
Despite the noise, not everything is conflict. Several young people on the squad have found in Alonso a coach willing to give them space. Players like Arda Güler, who established himself as a starter, or the new signings Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono, are examples of the boost that the coach wanted to give to the generational change. The recovery of Kylian Mbappé also stands out, in his best moment since he arrived at the club, with 18 goal participations in just 13 games.
With the calendar now marking a demanding visit to Liverpool in the Champions League, the coach faces a new test, this time with a backing that seemed to be faltering weeks ago. The Clásico served as a turning point: a triumph that reinforces his leadership and gives credit to his project, but that does not erase the internal tensions or the high bar of expectations at the Santiago Bernabéu.
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