Xabi Alonso now understands that his future as Real Madrid coach hinges on the outcome of the 2026 Spanish Super Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia.
According to Marca, Alonso has been informed that the Super Cup is his ultimate test, and any failure could lead to his immediate dismissal.
Real Madrid will face Atlético Madrid on Thursday, January 8th, and if they win, they will await the winner of the Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao match in the final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel).
Florentino Pérez has made it clear to Alonso that he must bring the title back to Spain, or at least deliver a performance that justifies his continued tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The Basque coach needs to decisively outperform Atlético Madrid and secure a victory; a defeat will mean his dismissal, even if the performance is good.
If they reach the final and lose, their fate will depend on their performance, although it’s widely expected that Alonso will be sacked if they lose the title.
Real Madrid’s management is wary of Alonso’s complete failure in all major tests except for the La Liga Clasico, and there’s no room for another setback that could lead to another trophyless season for Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, Álvaro Arbeloa and Santiago Solari are closely monitoring the situation. Should Alonso leave, one of them will take over as interim manager until the end of the season.
It’s worth noting that Real Madrid, under Alonso’s leadership, currently sits second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona, and has collected 12 points from six Champions League matches.
