Last Sunday, Real Madrid left the Santiago Bernabéu defeated, (0-2) against Celta, and whistled by its fans. A reaction from the Madrid fans that has raised concern among the white leaders. The team has not finished playing a convincing game and the results are beginning to take their toll, with only two victories in the last five games. This caused the holding of a crisis cabinet in the Santiago Bernabéu itself at the conclusion of the meetingwhen the stadium had already emptied and after the president went down to the locker room to see Xabi and the players.
In the Bernabéu box until 00:30
At the meeting, took place in the Bernabéu box, Florentino Pérez participated with the general director José Ángel Sánchez, the main supporter of the signing of Xabi Alonso, and Juni Calafat, head of scouting at the club, to analyze the situation of Real Madrid. The president expressed his concern because, as he commented, he does not see that Real Madrid fans have finished engaging with this Madrid of Xabi. In it they talked about the coach's relationship with the players, the involvement of the footballers and the tactical doubts of the Tolosarra, who “He hasn't quite hit the mark,” in the words of the president.
Halfway through the meeting, the possibility of relieving him was put on the table. And there Florentino asked the key question: “And who do we put for Xabi?” They informed him that Jürgen Klopp's door is still closed, because the German is not contemplating sitting on the bench at the moment. They also told him that “Zizou is going to be France coach and he's in it.” So they came to the conclusion that if they decide to fire Alonso, the only alternatives right now are Álvaro Arbeloa and Santiago Solari.
Arbeloa and Raúl do not convince Florentino
Florentino has never been convinced by Arbeloa. If Xabi Alonso has not been able to take over this dressing room, Arbeloa does not have the hierarchy to do so. Furthermore, he is not the type of coach for a situation in which you have to manage the egos of the stars in the middle of a fight with the coach.
Something similar to what happens with Raúl, whom he has had the opportunity to place in charge of the first team, and has never done so. The other name is Santiago Solari, a person that the players know and respect, because they see it in the day-to-day life of the club. Furthermore, Vinícius has a great relationship with him because he was the coach who worked with him upon his arrival at Castilla and in the first team. The concern is whether the locker room will welcome the coach as a new coach or as someone provisional.
Xabi Alonso, before Real Madrid-Manchester City. / Sergio Pérez / EFE
Finally, they made the decision to wait for this Wednesday's match against Manchester City in the hope that the situation will be reversed against Guardiola's team to gain time. Florentino has never been devoted to Xabi Alonso, but now he understands that the problem is not only with the coach and the performance of the footballers is also failing. Which has led him to talk to some of the heavyweights in the locker room so that they commit to turning the situation around.
The idea is that Xabi continues, barring a catastrophe against City. They want to see the team compete and hope that the waters calm down so that Alonso reaches the next turning point that appears on the white calendar, the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Around twelve thirty at night the meeting was concluded with the hope that a traumatic decision would not have to be made after the match with Manchester City.
Xabi meeting with the players
This meeting was followed by another this Monday at the Valdebebas facilities between Xabi Alonso and the players. Before taking to the pitch, they analyzed what happened against Celta and the upcoming match against Manchester City. The players, who this time are being blamed for the situation that the team has been in since last season, need to reverse the situation as much as Xabi Alonso. Although the relationship between the coach and the players is distant, everyone has a lot at stake this Wednesday at the Bernabéu against Pep Guardiola's team.
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