Xabi Alonso Responds To The Issue Of Dismissal: I Still Get Support From Real Madrid Players

Xabi Alonso responded calmly to the issue of dismissal from Real Madrid (Instagram/@realmadrid).

JAKARTA - Xabi Alonso confirmed on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, local time that he still received support from his players.

He said calmly responding to reports that his work was threatened, as Real Madrid prepare to host Manchester City in the Champions League on Thursday, December 11, 2025, early morning WIB.

Los Blancos entered the match against Manchester City after winning only one of the last five games in LaLiga, including a 0-2 home defeat to Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday, December 8, 2025, early morning WIB.

ESPN reported Monday that President Florentino Perez met with the Real Madrid Board of Directors following a defeat to Celta to discuss Alonso's future, with concerns over his management and the performance of key players.

"Yes," Alonso said, giving a short answer when asked if he felt he still had the support of his squad, at a press conference on Tuesday.

"This team is united, this team is confident. Everyone believes we can win tomorrow. Nobody doubts. However, for that, we have to play with good rhythm, intensity and competitiveness," Alonso said when asked about the situation ahead of the match against Manchester City.

Meanwhile, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said that the result disappointed Real Madrid including the 0-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League and three draws against Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona, before losing to Celta was not Alonso's fault.

"In the match against Celta Vigo, the coach did have a good game plan. But, in the end, we are the players on the field (determining)."

"If we were at our level, we had more chances to win these games. If we lose 0-2, there are problems for us on the pitch, with the intensity. It's not the coach's fault."

"If we don't play with maximum intensity, it's very difficult to win a game. We have to understand that to win these games, we have to give our best."

"We didn't do it against Celta, and we have to do it tomorrow (against Manchester City)," said Tchouameni.

Real Madrid's poor form left them four points behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga's standings.

The pressure on Alonso's seat was immediately heavy. No wonder, the names of Zinedine Zidane and the backup team coach Alvaro Arbeloa appeared as candidates to replace Alonso.

ESPN reports that the emergence of the two candidates is the impact of Alonso's way of dealing with the dressing room which is now being questioned by club executives. However, Alonso responded calmly to the news.

"As Real Madrid coach, you have to be ready to face this situation calmly. That's how I feel. I'm excited about what will happen next, starting tomorrow, after the anger that exists (after Celta), which is a natural thing."

"Now we think about Manchester City, Champions League. Everything can change quickly in football. It's not about change, it's about adaptation."

"I know the culture at Real Madrid, that's why it's the biggest job in the world, you need to adapt, you need to learn. There are processes, interactions with the players. There are good days, there are days that are not so good," Alonso said when asked about the speculation.

Furthermore, Alonso said he did not regret the big decision to replace Vinicius Junior in a win at El Clasico in October 2025, which sparked an angry reaction from the player.

The tension between Alonso and Vinicius is also one of the club's top brass because the coach had said after the incident that he would be open to working in the Premier League if anyone disagreed with his decision on the pitch.

"Right now, this is where I am. This is where I want to be. In the future, we never know what will happen," said Alonso.