Alonso Treading a Precarious Tightrope at the Bernabéu Despite Player Endorsement.

No attacker in the club's annals had experienced failing to find the net for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was freed and he had a statement to send, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in almost a year and was beginning only his fifth appearance this season, beat shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them the lead against Manchester City. Then he spun and charged towards the sideline to greet Xabi Alonso, the manager under pressure for whom this could represent an even greater relief.

“It’s a tough moment for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Performances aren't working out and I sought to show the public that we are united with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the lead had been taken from them, a setback taking its place. City had reversed the score, taking 2-1 ahead with “very little”, Alonso noted. That can happen when you’re in a “sensitive” condition, he continued, but at least Madrid had responded. On this occasion, they could not engineer a recovery. Endrick, brought on having played a handful of minutes all season, struck the woodwork in the final seconds.

A Delayed Judgment

“It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo admitted. The dilemma was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to keep his position. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was felt privately. “Our performance proved that we’re with the coach: we have played well, given 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so the axe was postponed, consequences delayed, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A More Credible Type of Setback

Madrid had been defeated at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this was a more respectable. This was Manchester City, rather than a domestic opponent. Simplified, they had actually run, the simplest and most damning criticism not aimed at them this time. With eight men out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a spot-kick, nearly earning something at the death. There were “a lot of very good things” about this showing, the boss stated, and there could be “no blame” of his players, not this time.

The Bernabéu's Muted Reception

That was not entirely the full story. There were moments in the second half, as frustration grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had jeered. At full time, a portion of supporters had done so again, although there was also some applause. But mostly, there was a muted flow to the subway. “That’s normal, we accept it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso stated: “There's nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were times when they applauded too.”

Dressing Room Backing Is Evident

“I sense the support of the players,” Alonso declared. And if he backed them, they backed him too, at least in front of the media. There has been a rapprochement, talks: the coach had listened to them, perhaps more than they had accommodated him, reaching somewhere not exactly in the compromise.

How lasting a solution that is continues to be an matter of debate. One small incident in the post-match press conference felt notable. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s counsel to do things his way, Alonso had permitted that implication to remain unanswered, responding: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we know each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.”

A Starting Point of Fight

Most importantly though, he could be pleased that there was a spirit, a pushback. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they publicly backed him. Part of it may have been theatrical, done out of professionalism or mutual survival, but in this tense environment, it was important. The effort with which they played had been as well – even if there is a temptation of the most elementary of expectations somehow being promoted as a kind of success.

The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had insisted the coach had a vision, that their shortcomings were not his doing. “I believe my colleague Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The sole solution is [for] the players to alter the attitude. The attitude is the crucial element and today we have seen a difference.”

Jude Bellingham, asked if they were supporting the coach, also replied quantitatively: “100%.”

“We persist in striving to work it out in the locker room,” he said. “We know that the [outside] chatter will not be helpful so it is about trying to sort it out in there.”

“Personally, I feel the gaffer has been excellent. I individually have a strong connection with him,” Bellingham stated. “After the run of games where we drew a few, we had some very productive conversations internally.”

“Everything concludes in the end,” Alonso concluded, perhaps speaking as much about poor form as anything else.