Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City has the Santiago Bernabeu buzzing with doubt, but sacking Xabi Alonso now would be a massive mistake.

Xabi Alonso needs time to reshape Real Madrid. The dressing room is not turning on Alonso despite the growing noise from fans and media. After that tough UEFA Champions League night against Manchester City, stars like Jude Bellingham stepped up, telling reporters they fully trust the manager’s plan.

Thibaut Courtois echoed the same, stressing how the team believes in sticking together through rough patches. This kind of public show of unity shuts down whispers of mutiny that often poison big clubs like Real Madrid. When players speak out like this, it shows real buy-in, not forced loyalty.

Breaking the Galactico habit

Real Madrid have long chased shiny superstars, dropping huge cash on names that dazzle but sometimes clash. Think back to the early 2000s era when Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo lit up the pitch, but the team still stumbled in key moments because egos got in the way.

Xabo Alonso wants no part of that anymore at Real Madrid. He is pushing a fresh setup where the team comes first, not individual fame. We have seen the Spaniard bench Vinicius Junior in La Liga games when the winger was not fitting the shape, even if it ruffled feathers.

Instead, he is handing real minutes to Arda Guler, the Turkish wonderkid who has been waiting for his shot. Youngsters like Raul Asencio from the academy are getting nods too, building a squad that gels over time rather than buying quick fixes.

New tactics taking shape

Gone are the days of all-out attack with no plan B under past bosses. Xabi Alonso brought his high-pressing, ball-controlling style from Bayer Leverkusen, tweaking it for La Liga’s gritty defences.

Real Madrid sit second after 16 games with 36 points, four behind leaders Barcelona, but dig into the numbers: they have controlled 62% possession on average in recent outings, up from 55% last season. The press has forced 14 turnovers in the final third per match over the last five games, per Opta stats.

Sure, injuries have wrecked the backline, with Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao unavailable. Alonso has had to shuffle with makeshift pairs like Raul Asencio alongside Antonio Rudiger. This is not chaos; it is a system bedding in. Against Manchester City, Real Madrid had 17 shots to their 11, showing fight even in defeat.

Why should Xabi Alonso be given time at Real Madrid?

Hand Xabi Alonso real time, and history says it pays off big for Real Madrid. At Bayer Leverkusen, he took over a mid-table side and turned them into invincible machines. They went 51 games unbeaten across all comps, clinching the Bundesliga without a single loss—first time ever—and even won the DFB-Pokal.

Post-Carlo Ancelotti, who won everything but left a squad heavy on ageing legs and injuries, Alonso’s reset fits perfectly. Firing him echoes Real Madrid’s past blunders, like dumping Jose Mourinho after one trophyless year despite his Champions League haul.

Florentino Perez built dynasties before, backing Zinedine Zidane through 2016-18 when doubts crept in mid-campaign. Do it again here. Barcelona’s flying with 40 points, but Real Madrid’s squad depth—Mbappe with 25 goals, Bellingham with seven goal contributions despite midfield tweaks—gives them the firepower to strike back.

Sacking Alonso risks the chaos cycle: new boss, new ideas, more upheaval. Leverkusen proved Alonso turns pressure into streaks. Fans whistled at the Manchester City game, but players’ backing and Perez’s smarts should keep the faith. By May, this could be the season Madrid challenges on all fronts, with Alonso as the architect.

Building for the Next Decade

Zoom out, and Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid project screams long-game winner. The Galactico model won 15 Champions Leagues since 1956, but lately it has sputtered, second in La Liga last year, early exits in Europe.

His way blends Real Madrid’s winning DNA with smart evolution: 70% pass accuracy under pressure (top three in La Liga), youth minutes up 25% from last season. Arda Guler’s emergence is not luck; Alonso has trusted the youngster.

Vinicius Junior, post-bench spells, looks sharper. While he was not at his best against Manchester City, the Brazilian international can certainly help the Spanish manager bounce back. Critics point to the Manchester City loss, but Real Madrid outshot them and hit the woodwork twice.

That is not a broken team; it is one that is adapting. Florentino Perez knows knee-jerk moves kill momentum, like the Solari saga after Lopetegui. Back Xabi Alonso, and you are investing in a Real Madrid that dominates without endless spending.

Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid: The Bigger Picture

Football loves snap judgments after one bad night, but Real Madrid’s story under Xabi Alonso is just starting. The 2-1 defeat stung, with Manchester City’s clinical finishing exposing defensive gaps, but positives shone through: Jude Bellingham’s tireless midfield runs covered 12km, most on the pitch.

Squad harmony, tactical tweaks, and proven track record all scream “hold steady.” Barcelona surged once again under Xavi after early flops, winning La Liga by double digits.

Real Madrid can mirror that. Whispers of Jurgen Klopp as a replacement? Tempting, but he’d demand his own rebuild, delaying progress. Alonso is already here, players on board, system clicking. Florentino Perez built empires on bold calls; time to make this one. Come spring, expect Madrid not just to recover but to redefine elite football on their terms.