XABI ALONSO lost it with his Real Madrid players long before he left his role as head coach.
The former Liverpool and Madrid midfielder, 44, parted ways with the club on Monday after defeat in the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona.
Although the timing of the decision from president Florentino Perez has surprised many off the back of a promising performance, the seeds had long been sown.
Alonso was under pressure at the start of December and reports now suggest that he had exploded at his stars during training before even that.
According to Marca, Alonso fumed in one session: “I didn’t know I was coming to coach a nursery!”
It is described as being the beginning of the end for Alonso, who lost the faith of his squad.
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SO LON, FAREWELL
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He lasted just 34 games in total, struggling to implement a more structured and disciplined style.
The Spaniard was hired having organised Bayer Leverkusen to great success, leading them to an unbeaten Bundesliga title win in the 2023-24 season.
But Madrid is a different beast and ex-boss Carlo Ancelotti had a more relaxed approach over his years of managing the same group.
Los Blancos did not see the Alonso project through and this report from Spain adds that the outburst opened a wound which never healed.
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Alonso’s intensity and tactical demands were said to be too much, although the coach and his staff were left disappointed with the players’ ability to take on information.
His eventual replacement, Alvaro Arbeloa, is also said to have been mentioned by some at Valdebebas.
The writing was on the wall even if Alonso was still trying to turn things around.
He still leaves with 24 wins across all competitions and just six defeats – one to Barca, another two to Liverpool and Manchester City, as well as losses to PSG and Atletico Madrid.