Three reasons why Real Madrid should not sack Xabi Alonso just yet | OneFootball

Pressure is part of the job at Real Madrid. Every poor run of form sparks debate, and every draw feels like a crisis. 

Xabi Alonso is now feeling that heat, with questions being asked about whether he is the right man to lead the club forward. 

However, sacking him at this stage would be a rushed and risky decision. 

As things stand, while there are voices that are demanding the sacking of the former Bayer Leverkusen coach, there are clear reasons why Real Madrid should show patience and resist the urge to pull the trigger too early.

Today, we look at three solid reasons

No immediate replacement is available

The first and most obvious problem is the lack of a clear alternative. 

Real Madrid are not a club that can afford to gamble on an unproven coach during the middle of a demanding season. 

As such, Alvaro Arbeloa is highly respected within the club and is doing promising work at the youth level, but asking him to take charge of the first team now would be a huge leap. 

He simply does not have the experience required to manage a squad full of global stars while fighting on multiple fronts.

Looking outside the club does not offer many solutions either. There are no elite managers freely available who fit Real Madrid’s profile and understand the pressure that comes with the job. 

Zinedine Zidane, the most popular name linked whenever Madrid look uncertain, is not an option. 

His focus remains firmly on taking over the French national team after the World Cup, and there is no indication that he is willing to return to club football before then. 

Making a change without a clear upgrade would only create more instability.

Complete tactical reset would be required

Real Madrid would require a complete reset if a new manager arrives. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s recent transfer decisions have been made with Xabi Alonso’s ideas in mind. 

Players such as Alvaro Carreras and Trent Alexander-Arnold were signed or retained because they fit his style of play, his tactical demands, and his long-term vision. 

While results have not always followed immediately, there are visible signs that the squad is slowly aligning around a shared idea.

As such, changing the manager now would mean tearing up months of work. A new coach would likely demand different profiles, different roles, and a different approach. 

That would not only waste the progress already made but also send a dangerous message to the dressing room. 

Speaking of progress, Alonso has gotten the best out of players like Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni and Carreras, to name a few, and there would be no certainty whether the new manager would follow that blueprint.

Lastly, giving players the impression that pressure can force a manager out sets a bad precedent. 

There is no guarantee that the same group would not repeat this behaviour with the next coach, creating a damaging cycle for the club.

Too early to judge

Xabi Alonso should be given more time. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Despite all the noise, Real Madrid’s situation is far from disastrous. 

They are just four points behind league leaders Barcelona in La Liga, with plenty of matches still to play. 

In the UEFA Champions League, Madrid are also on track to finish within the top eight, keeping their European campaign very much alive.

Yes, performances have not always met the club’s historic standards. But not enough has been lost to justify such a drastic move. 

Alonso is still early in his tenure, working through a lot of injuries, transitions, and tactical adjustments. Judging him now would ignore the bigger picture.

For Real Madrid, patience may not be comfortable, but right now, it is the smartest option.