Real Madrid’s management has renewed its confidence in coach Xabi Alonso, and the Spaniard will remain in his position for at least another week. However, he is not safe from dismissal and could be sacrificed unless he manages to turn things around at the Santiago Bernabéu.
It was previously reported by Spanish media that Real Madrid’s management would sack Alonso if Los Blancos lost to Manchester City in the Champions League. Although the defeat was 2-1, the players showed strong support for their coach, and the team’s performance was not so bad as to warrant the immediate dismissal of the former Bayer Leverkusen coach.
According to the newspaper AS, Real Madrid’s management has decided to give Alonso one last chance, specifically in the next three matches.
Real Madrid will face Alavés on Saturday. A defeat will result in Xabi Alonso’s dismissal, while a win will guarantee his position until the Copa del Rey match against Talavera. A loss in that game will also lead to his dismissal, while a victory will keep him in charge until the match against Sevilla. He will then need to secure a win against the Andalusian club to avoid being sacked.
Real Madrid’s management is clear: Alonso must win the next three matches. Any defeat in any of them will mean his immediate dismissal, regardless of the support he enjoys in the dressing room or among the fans.
Jürgen Klopp remains Real Madrid’s preferred replacement for Alonso should he be dismissed, but the task seems almost impossible given the German’s commitment to his managerial role with Red Bull and his reluctance to return to coaching.
Raúl Arbeloa appears to be the most likely candidate to succeed Alonso at Real Madrid, even if only temporarily until the end of the season, especially since Zinedine Zidane has already agreed to take over the French national team from Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup.
