Manager Alonso Walking a Precarious Line at Real Madrid Despite Dressing Room Endorsement.

No offensive player in the club's history had experienced failing to find the net for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but finally he was freed and he had a declaration to send, acted out for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in almost a year and was beginning only his fifth appearance this term, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the opening goal against Manchester City. Then he wheeled and sprinted towards the bench to embrace Xabi Alonso, the boss in the spotlight for whom this could represent an profound release.

“This is a challenging moment for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo commented. “Performances aren't working out and I sought to demonstrate the public that we are as one with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been taken from them, a setback taking its place. City had turned it around, going 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “sensitive” condition, he continued, but at least Madrid had reacted. Ultimately, they could not engineer a comeback. Endrick, on as a substitute having played a handful of minutes all season, rattled the bar in the dying moments.

A Suspended Verdict

“The effort fell short,” Rodrygo conceded. The question was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to retain his role. “That wasn't our perception [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated, but that was how it had been portrayed in the media, and how it was understood behind closed doors. “Our performance proved that we’re supporting the manager: we have played well, provided 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so judgment was reserved, any action pending, with fixtures against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon.

A Different Type of Setback

Madrid had been defeated at home for the second time in four days, extending their uninspiring streak to two wins in eight, but this felt a somewhat distinct. This was Manchester City, rather than a lesser opponent. Stripped down, they had shown fight, the most obvious and most damning criticism not aimed at them this time. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a opportunistic strike and a spot-kick, almost securing something at the end. There were “numerous of very good things” about this performance, the head coach said, and there could be “no reproach” of his players, tonight.

The Bernabéu's Ambivalent Response

That was not completely the full story. There were spells in the closing 45 minutes, as frustration grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the final whistle, a section of supporters had continued, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But primarily, there was a muted procession to the subway. “It's to be expected, we understand it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso remarked: “It’s nothing that is unprecedented before. And there were moments when they applauded too.”

Squad Unity Is Firm

“I have the confidence of the players,” Alonso affirmed. And if he stood by them, they stood by him too, at least towards the cameras. There has been a coming together, discussions: the coach had listened to them, perhaps more than they had accommodated him, meeting a point not quite in the center.

How lasting a solution that is is still an unresolved issue. One little exchange in the post-match press conference seemed telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to do things his way, Alonso had let that idea to remain unanswered, replying: “I share a good rapport with Pep, we understand each other well and he is aware of what he is implying.”

A Starting Point of Resistance

Above all though, he could be satisfied that there was a fight, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not abandoned their coach during the game and after it they publicly backed him. Part of it may have been for show, done out of duty or self-interest, but in this climate, it was meaningful. The commitment with which they played had been too – even if there is a risk of the most elementary of expectations somehow being framed as a kind of positive.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a plan, that their shortcomings were not his doing. “I believe my teammate Aurélien put it perfectly in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The sole solution is [for] the players to change the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a change.”

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

“We are continuing striving to solve it in the dressing room,” he continued. “We know that the [outside] speculation will not be productive so it is about attempting to resolve it in there.”

“In my opinion the gaffer has been great. I myself have a great connection with him,” Bellingham concluded. “Following the spell of games where we drew a few, we had some very productive conversations internally.”

“All things passes in the end,” Alonso mused, perhaps talking as much about adversity as his own predicament.