Xabi Alonso commended the “unity” of his Real Madrid squad following their 2-1 LaLiga victory over Alavés, easing some pressure on the embattled coach.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid in the first half at Mendizorroza, but Carlos Vicente equalized for the home side after the break. However, Rodrygo netted a late winner, assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
This win positions Madrid four points behind their rivals, Barcelona, at the top of the league table, following a disappointing series of results that included three league draws and a loss to Celta Vigo, prompting club officials to evaluate Alonso’s future.
Alonso’s dynamics with Vinícius came under scrutiny after the forward’s frustrated reaction to being substituted in October’s Clásico. However, during the Alavés match, the two embraced after Vinícius was replaced late in the game.
“We’re united, fighting together in both the good and challenging times,” Alonso stated in his post-match press briefing. “The team displayed great effort. Our start was solid, and we managed to secure the lead at the end. Unity is essential.”
Madrid has two more matches ahead of the Christmas break: they will face Talavera de la Reina in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, followed by a LaLiga match against Sevilla next weekend.
“We’re focused on our game plan,” Alonso remarked. “The team deserves the accolades for the win, especially with several absentees, including [defender Victor] Valdepeñas, who made his debut.”
“We stand together in this. With the Copa on Wednesday and Sevilla following, there’s a long road ahead, but we need to maintain consistency in the positives we exhibited today.”
According to ESPN, Madrid’s loss to Celta Vigo on December 7—followed by a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League—led the board to contemplate alternatives to Alonso, raising concerns about his management of the squad.
“The game against Celta was far from satisfactory, and we lacked numerous elements,” Alonso commented on Sunday. “However, today brought many positives, along with areas for improvement. To keep winning, we must be consistent.”
Alonso also expressed his belief that Madrid should have been awarded a penalty in the second half for a foul on Vinícius. “It looked like a clear penalty to me,” he said. “I’m quite surprised the referee didn’t consult VAR.”