Manager Alonso Treading a Fine Tightrope at Real Madrid Despite Squad Endorsement.

No attacker in Los Blancos' record books had experienced failing to find the net for as such a duration as Rodrygo, but eventually he was freed and he had a statement to broadcast, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in nine months and was starting only his fifth appearance this term, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the opening goal against Pep Guardiola's side. Then he turned and sprinted towards the bench to hug Xabi Alonso, the boss on the edge for whom this could represent an profound relief.

“It’s a difficult time for him, like it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Things are not going our way and I sought to show everyone that we are united with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo made his comments, the advantage had been taken from them, a defeat taking its place. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “very little”, Alonso observed. That can happen when you’re in a “sensitive” condition, he continued, but at least Madrid had fought back. Ultimately, they could not engineer a comeback. Endrick, brought on having played a handful of minutes all season, rattled the bar in the closing stages.

A Suspended Sentence

“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo said. The question was whether it would be enough for Alonso to retain his position. “We didn't view it as [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “Our performance proved that we’re behind the coach: we have performed creditably, given 100%,” Courtois added. And so the final decision was postponed, sentencing pending, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A More Credible Form of Setback

Madrid had been defeated at home for the second match in four days, perpetuating their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this felt a little different. This was a European powerhouse, rather than a domestic opponent. Streamlined, they had shown fight, the most obvious and most harsh criticism not directed at them on this night. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a converted penalty, coming close to salvaging something at the death. There were “numerous of very good things” about this performance, the boss argued, and there could be “no blame” of his players, tonight.

The Bernabéu's Mixed Reception

That was not completely the case. There were periods in the closing 45 minutes, as discontent grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the conclusion, some of supporters had repeated that, although there was likewise some applause. But primarily, there was a quiet flow to the doors. “That’s normal, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso added: “This is nothing that doesn't occur before. And there were times when they cheered too.”

Dressing Room Support Stands Strong

“I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso said. And if he backed them, they stood by him too, at least for the cameras. There has been a rapprochement, conversations: the coach had accommodated them, arguably more than they had accommodated him, reaching somewhere not quite in the compromise.

How lasting a fix that is continues to be an unresolved issue. One seemingly minor incident in the post-match press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had allowed that implication to remain unanswered, replying: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we know each other well and he is aware of what he is saying.”

A Starting Point of Resistance

Crucially though, he could be pleased that there was a spirit, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they stood up for him. This support may have been performative, done out of professionalism or mutual survival, but in this context, it was important. The effort with which they played had been equally so – even if there is a danger of the most elementary of standards somehow being elevated as a kind of achievement.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had stated firmly the coach had a plan, that their shortcomings were not his responsibility. “I think my colleague Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The key is [for] the players to improve the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have witnessed a change.”

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

“We persist in attempting to work it out in the dressing room,” he continued. “It's clear that the [outside] chatter will not be helpful so it is about trying to sort it out in there.”

“In my opinion the manager has been excellent. I individually have a excellent relationship with him,” Bellingham concluded. “After the run of games where we were held a few, we had some very productive conversations among ourselves.”

“All things concludes in the end,” Alonso mused, maybe speaking as much about adversity as everything.