Real Madrid entered the match against Man City with great pressure, after losing to Celta Vigo at home last weekend. Rodrygo ended a run of 32 consecutive games without a goal, scoring to put Real ahead in the 26th minute. But then, Man City successfully came back, thanks to two goals from O'Reilly and Haaland.
This defeat added to the pressure on Xabi Alonso, whose future at Real had been questioned before this match. "The match was very fierce, with occasional ups and downs. We started very well with goals and more chances, doing what we wanted. But when they were not at their best, Man City took the lead in just the last 10 minutes of the first half.
We continue to try, not giving up despite all the difficulties and injuries. The players gave their all. I really appreciate the attitude of the players, but we have to keep going. This is not a good time, we are criticizing and demanding on ourselves, and we have to continue working because the whole team believes this will pass, Xabi Alonso said.
Real Madrid are in a difficult time. In addition to their declining form in both the main arenas, LaLiga and Champions League, they have 8 injured first-team players, including No. 1 striker Mbappe.
At the end of the match against Man City, many fans at the Bernabeu Stadium cried and whistled because they were disappointed with the home team's performance. According to Alonso, this is normal.
Its normal to complain, it can happen when you dont win at home, he said. But there were times when fans supported us, giving the team more energy. We can understand and accept the growls at the end of the match, because the pressure here is huge.
We want to turn things around, both physically and mentally. There is still a long way to go; everyone has a different perspective, but this is a long season and everything can change in a short time.
In the midst of the situation, Real Madrid's key players all support Xabi Alonso. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois emphasized: "I think the whole team supports the coach. That was clearly shown in this match. Everyone fought until the last minute and we gave our all on the pitch. The coach is very calm, thinking about how to improve the team and our playing style.
Meanwhile, midfielder Jude Bellingham emphasized that Xabi Alonso is a great coach. He and the other players in the team have a very good relationship with this strategist. In recent matches, Real Madrid have disappointed themselves. However, the whole team is not complaining but is trying to improve the situation.
