Xabi Alonso Walking a Fine Path at the Bernabéu Amidst Squad Endorsement.

No forward in Los Blancos' annals had experienced scoreless for as long as Rodrygo, but finally he was released and he had a message to broadcast, performed for the world to see. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in almost a year and was beginning only his fifth match this season, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against the English champions. Then he turned and ran towards the sideline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the boss on the edge for whom this could signal an more significant liberation.

“It’s a tough moment for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Results aren’t coming off and I wanted to demonstrate everyone that we are together with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the lead had been taken from them, another loss following. City had come back, going 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso noted. That can transpire when you’re in a “fragile” condition, he continued, but at least Madrid had responded. On this occasion, they could not pull off a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played 11 minutes all season, rattled the bar in the dying moments.

A Reserved Sentence

“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The dilemma was whether it would be enough for Alonso to retain his position. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was perceived internally. “We demonstrated that we’re supporting the manager: we have played well, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so the axe was postponed, consequences suspended, with games against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A Distinct Form of Loss

Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this felt a little different. This was a European powerhouse, rather than a lesser opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the simplest and most damning criticism not directed at them in this instance. With multiple players out injured, they had lost only to a scrambled finish and a penalty, almost securing something at the death. There were “many of very good things” about this showing, the manager argued, and there could be “no blame” of his players, tonight.

The Bernabéu's Mixed Reaction

That was not always the full story. There were moments in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At full time, some of supporters had repeated that, although there was also sporadic clapping. But mostly, there was a quiet procession to the exits. “It's to be expected, we understand it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “There's nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were instances when they clapped too.”

Dressing Room Support Remains Strong

“I sense the support of the players,” Alonso affirmed. And if he backed them, they backed him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a coming together, talks: the coach had listened to them, maybe more than they had adapted to him, meeting common ground not quite in the compromise.

How lasting a fix that is remains an matter of debate. One small moment in the after-game press conference appeared telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to stick to his principles, Alonso had permitted that idea to remain unanswered, replying: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we understand each other well and he knows what he is implying.”

A Basis of Reaction

Most importantly though, he could be pleased that there was a fight, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they publicly backed him. This support may have been for show, done out of obligation or self-interest, but in this context, it was meaningful. The effort with which they played had been as well – even if there is a risk of the most elementary of expectations somehow being framed as a type of positive.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a vision, that their failings were not his fault. “I think my teammate Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The only way is [for] the players to improve the approach. The attitude is the key thing and today we have witnessed a difference.”

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

“We persist in attempting to solve it in the locker room,” he continued. “We understand that the [outside] noise will not be productive so it is about trying to fix it in there.”

“In my opinion the gaffer has been superb. I individually have a excellent relationship with him,” Bellingham stated. “Following the spell of games where we drew a few, we had some very productive conversations behind the scenes.”

“Everything passes in the end,” Alonso philosophized, perhaps referring as much about adversity as his own predicament.