Alonso Treading a Thin Tightrope at Real Madrid Even With Dressing Room Backing.

No forward in the club's history had endured failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but at last he was freed and he had a statement to deliver, performed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in almost a year and was commencing only his fifth appearance this campaign, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the advantage against Manchester City. Then he wheeled and ran towards the touchline to greet Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could represent an even greater liberation.

“It’s a tough time for him, similar to how it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Results are not going our way and I sought to prove people that we are as one with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been surrendered, a setback ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso noted. That can happen when you’re in a “fragile” situation, he added, but at least Madrid had reacted. On this occasion, they could not engineer a recovery. Endrick, introduced off the bench having played very little all season, struck the crossbar in the final seconds.

A Delayed Sentence

“It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo admitted. The issue was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to retain his position. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “We demonstrated that we’re behind the coach: we have played well, offered 100%,” Courtois added. And so the final decision was postponed, any action delayed, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A More Credible Type of Defeat

Madrid had been defeated at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their poor form to two wins in eight, but this felt a little different. This was a European powerhouse, rather than a domestic opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the most obvious and most damning criticism not directed at them this time. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a spot-kick, coming close to securing something at the final whistle. There were “many of very good things” about this performance, the manager said, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, not this time.

The Fans' Muted Reception

That was not always the case. There were moments in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the conclusion, some of supporters had continued, although there was in addition some applause. But mostly, there was a muted procession to the exits. “We understand that, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso remarked: “There's nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were moments when they applauded too.”

Dressing Room Support Is Evident

“I feel the confidence of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he supported them, they stood by him too, at least for the cameras. There has been a coming together, discussions: the coach had listened to them, maybe more than they had accommodated him, meeting a point not exactly in the compromise.

The longevity of a solution that is remains an open question. One small exchange in the after-game press conference seemed telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that idea to linger, answering: “I have a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he is aware of what he is saying.”

A Basis of Resistance

Above all though, he could be satisfied that there was a fight, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they defended him. This support may have been for show, done out of professionalism or mutual survival, but in this climate, it was significant. The effort with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of expectations somehow being elevated as a type of success.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a vision, that their mistakes were not his responsibility. “In my view my teammate Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The sole solution is [for] the players to improve the approach. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have witnessed a shift.”

Jude Bellingham, asked if they were with the coach, also responded with a figure: “100%.”

“We’re still attempting to figure it out in the dressing room,” he said. “It's clear that the [outside] noise will not be helpful so it is about attempting to fix it in there.”

“In my opinion the manager has been excellent. I personally have a strong connection with him,” Bellingham stated. “After the run of games where we drew a few, we had some very productive conversations among ourselves.”

“All things passes in the end,” Alonso mused, maybe talking as much about adversity as anything else.