“I would have been sacked” – Pep Guardiola responds to Xabi Alonso pressure at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to criticism and pressure facing Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid.

City touched down in Madrid on Tuesday evening with the aim of resetting their Champions League campaign after a disappointing defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last time out at the Etihad Stadium.

The atmosphere around the squad has been purposeful, with Guardiola and senior players emphasising the importance of producing a composed, authoritative performance at the Bernabeu with Real Madrid navigating an uneven run of form.

The scrutiny on the home dugout has been intense, with Xabi Alonso facing fierce criticism following mixed results and a lengthy injury list that has disrupted rhythm. Spanish media have spent weeks dissecting decisions and team selections at a club where expectations rarely dip, even in transitional phases.

Against that backdrop, Pep Guardiola was inevitably asked to weigh in on the mounting pressure. The City boss has never shied away from discussing the demands of elite management and having worked with Alonso during their period at Bayern Munich, Guardiola has a close personal appreciation of the Spaniard’s professionalism, personality, and coaching philosophy.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League clash at the Bernabeu, Pep Guardiola was quizzed for his thoughts on the ongoing pressure and criticism facing Xabi Alonso in the Spanish capital.

“Of course I have sympathy, because we were together one-year-and-a-half, two years – it was an incredible experience being with him. Not just as managers, we share many, many things, families as well,” said Guardiola.

The Catalan boss continued, “So Barcelona and [Real] Madrid are the toughest clubs, I would say, to be a manager, the most difficult ones for pressure and for the environment.

“Last season I had done [at Manchester City], I would have been sacked six months before the end of the season [if I was at either of those clubs]. It’s a difficult place, but he knows it, he has been here, he knows the reality. It’s a question of, yeah, winning games.

“I know they have a lot of absences, I know what happens when you want to build something when many players are injured – it happened ourselves last season. But of course he’s capable to do it, what is required in that position in being manager for Madrid.”

Looking ahead, Pep Guardiola’s remarks highlight a broader truth about Real Madrid’s internal culture in that results dictate everything, and patience is often scarce. For Alonso, the upcoming fixtures – including the showdown against City – may prove pivotal in stabilising perceptions and strengthening his position.

For City, this high-pressure environment may offer an opportunity. A Madrid side under strain could be more vulnerable, especially with key absences affecting their structure. Pep Guardiola’s side will be eager to capitalise, knowing that victory not only strengthens their Champions League standing but also places additional weight on their opponents’ shoulders.

Whatever unfolds, the meeting at the Bernabeu promises intrigue in a clash between two clubs striving for control of their season, and two managers under very different types of pressure.