This evening, Real Madrid travel to King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah for a Madrid derby which could mark a decisive turning point in the season… and in the career of Xabi Alonso. Despite a promising start to the year with a big victory against Real Betis (5-1), doubts persist about the Spanish coach’s ability to impose his project and manage a demanding locker room.
For Alonso, this Spanish Super Cup match is not just a simple sporting event: it is a real justice of the peace. The Spanish press, with AS in the lead, does not hide the fact that any poor performance against their close enemy, Atlético Madrid, could spell the end of their Merengue adventure. The historic 5-2 defeat suffered earlier this season still haunts Valdebebas, and the absence of key players like Mbappé only adds to the pressure.
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Internal tensions are added to the context: a tactical identity considered vague, disagreements with certain executives, notably Vinicius Junior, and sometimes delicate management of the locker room weaken Alonso’s position with Florentino Pérez. Since the defeat against Celta Vigo in December, the club’s patience seems to have reached its limits.
The scenario is clear: an elimination or a performance deemed insufficient this evening could result in immediate dismissal. Conversely, only a final victory would offer Xabi Alonso a breath of fresh air and the possibility of restoring coherence to a project still under construction. Big pressure in sight this evening in Saudi Arabia.
To summarize
Xabi Alonso is playing for survival this evening against Atlético Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Despite a recent 5-1 victory against Betis, his project remains contested, and any poor performance could lead to his immediate dismissal. This derbi is a real justice of the peace for the Real Madrid coach.
