PRESS REVIEW – The day after Real Madrid’s setback against Manchester City, the Spanish daily newspapers draw up a harsh observation.
New poor performance. The Champions League match between Real Madrid and Manchester City was obviously eagerly awaited in Spain, given the latest performances of the Merengue, who had two small victories in seven matches. And the observation is severe. Mark talks about “red alert» and a Real «without credit», evoking a new defeat which further weakens Xabi Alonso’s place on the bench. The daily noted a more positive attitude, but considered that it lacked playfulness and bite.
As addresses the same assessment by titling on “Xabi’s turning point» and a “improvement without reward”, in the end, the result remains the same. For the Madrid newspaper, the absence of Mbappé was felt and two errors cost the match. The only bright spot: Rodrygo, lacking playing time this season, scored and proved to be by far the best Madrilenian.
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The press supports Xabi
On the Catalan side, Sports World talks about “hard blow for Xabi» and points to a now very uncertain future for the technician, whistled by part of the Bernabéu. Sport agrees, “Pep a eu gain de causes», They write, considering that Guardiola has further weakened Xabi Alonso’s project.
Despite this new defeat for Real Madrid, part of the press came to the aid of the Spanish technician. Marca believes that “It’s not a layoff night“. The newspaper judges that this defeat is not directly attributable to the coach, “Real Madrid’s defeat to Manchester City was not a game where Xabi Alonso could be blamed. The team is weak, fragile, weakened, but it bowed with courage against a superior opponent“. Several players have also supported their coach, like Rodrygo, “we are all united, with our coach» or even Thibaut Courtois, “ we showed that we are a united team, that we support the coach. More Xabi Alonso «keep walking on a wire”, according to the press.
Mbappé missed
Hit in the finger and knee, Mbappé was unable to play the match, a major absence given his thunderous start to the season. As even speaks of a “dramatic loss”, recalling that the Frenchman accounts for 57% of the team’s offensive production. On a daily basis, his absence was clearly felt. Same story for Sports Worldwho insists, “syears Mbappé and seven other players, but above all without Mbappé.»
On an accounting level, the situation is not yet completely alarming, Real is 7th in the Champions League and second in La Liga, four points behind Barça. But the Blues captain’s teammates will have to react this weekend against Alavés to avoid seeing the Blaugranas take off.
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