Inside Real Madrid: Dressing Room Divisions and Xabi Alonso’s Challenge

Real Madrid, a club synonymous with excellence, currently navigates choppy waters. “Inside Real Madrid,” a weekly series from The Athletic, pulls back the curtain, revealing tensions and anxieties bubbling beneath the surface of this iconic institution. The series paints a picture of a team grappling with performance dips, internal disagreements, and questions surrounding the manager’s position.

The biggest worry? The team’s showings. They managed a tough Champions League win over Olympiacos, sure, but the performance didn’t inspire confidence. Then came the 1-1 draw with Girona, which cost them the La Liga lead, handing it to Barcelona. Before that, two more draws. Their last league victory feels like a distant memory, against Valencia on November 1st. The recent run of away games since the NFL spectacle at the Bernabeu hasn’t helped, perhaps disrupting their rhythm.
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Xabi Alonso, ever the professional, acknowledged the situation at the post-match presser. He spoke of needing to “keep going,” of “unity,” and “necessary self-criticism.” However, words can only carry so much weight when the on-field displays fall short of expectations. The fact that Kylian Mbappe has scored over half of Real Madrid’s goals this season probably raises concerns about the attack beyond Mbappe.

The mood inside the dressing room is a complex mix. There’s division, it appears, though not to the point of outright conflict. Back in October, murmurs arose about Alonso’s approach and footballing ideas not resonating with some players. Reports surfaced of meetings aimed at mending fences. After the Olympiacos victory, some players downplayed any tensions, but following the Girona draw, radio silence.

You’ve got two camps, it seems. One questions Alonso’s methods. The other, as one player reportedly told The Athletic, believes the problem isn’t the coach. Which is it? Truth often lies somewhere in the middle.
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This challenge is multi-faceted. Sources inside the club and coaching staff admit to the difficulty in changing the dynamic. The “very difficult” situation stems from simply “playing very badly,” to quote one source. The Girona result, against a team near the bottom of the table, was bluntly described as “a disaster.” This is Real Madrid, after all; standards are sky-high.

The upcoming matches, particularly the away game against Athletic Bilbao, become crucial. It’s not just about points; it’s about restoring the club’s image. It’s about showing a fighting spirit and convincing doubters that this team can still deliver.

Those close to the dressing room echo the concern, claiming Alonso’s message isn’t landing with the players. However, they also emphasize that the problems go beyond the coach. Ah, the deeper issues. As one source with daily access last season put it: the current setup with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Bellingham might simply be incompatible. This suggests a lack of balance, a fundamental flaw in the team’s construction. Can three such dominant personalities and players truly function as a cohesive unit?

This question brings us to the underlying issue: squad harmony and tactical fit. It’s not just about individual brilliance; it’s about how those individual talents mesh together to create a winning formula. That’s the real puzzle Alonso needs to solve, and quickly.

Digging a bit deeper, a few noteworthy details emerge. Antonio Rudiger’s unexpected return after injury is a gamble. He pushed to play, despite a history of recent ailments. This shows commitment, yet it also hints at a potential lack of depth or trust in other options.

Alvaro Carreras, usually a regular substitute, remained on the bench for most of the Girona match, only appearing late on. And Rodrygo’s goal drought continues, now matching the worst record for a Real Madrid striker. This underlines the team’s attacking struggles beyond Mbappe’s contributions.

One subtle but potentially significant observation: the players huddled together before the second half against Girona. This suggests a renewed focus, a collective effort to regroup and find a solution. It’s a positive sign, but whether it translates into tangible results remains to be seen.

Real Madrid now faces a tough test against Athletic Bilbao. Dani Carvajal remains sidelined. The question becomes whether any other injured players can recover in time to bolster the squad. The team needs a spark, a moment of brilliance, and, above all, a cohesive performance that silences the doubters and puts them back on the path to victory. Will Alonso find the answer? Only time will tell. The pressure is certainly on.

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Keywords: Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso, dressing room divisions, La Liga, Mbappe goals, Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid crisis, squad harmony