👀 Xabi under pressure after defeat, Real consider options | OneFootball

Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu was definitely a day for Xabi Alonso to forget – even more so than for Real Madrid fans.

Besides losing 2-0 to Celta de Vigo, the coach saw his team finish the game with three expulsions – including Endrick, who didn’t even take the field – facing a barrage of criticism and questions about whether his job is at risk if they don't beat Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday (10).

According to the newspaper El Mundo, Real Madrid already has two potential names to replace the Spanish coach: Zinedine Zidane and Jürgen Klopp.

Instability under Xabi

Real is going through an unstable phase: only two wins, three draws, and two losses in the last seven games.

The fluctuation increases pressure inside and outside the club. As the runner-up in LaLiga, Madrid saw the gap with Barcelona widen to four points after the 15th round. An elimination or setback against City could deepen the crisis.

At the Bernabéu, refereeing became the target of complaints throughout the match. Fran García, Álvaro Carreras, and Endrick were sent off — the Brazilian, from the bench, received a red card for criticizing the fourth official in the final minutes.

TV cameras caught Alonso questioning Fran García's behavior, in an irritated tone, after his foolish expulsion.

The internal environment also seems turbulent. The coach has already received public criticism from players like Vini Jr and Valverde, and there are rumors of difficulties in his relationship with the squad.

After the setback, Alonso tried to avoid controversy when asked twice in a row if he would leave the club's command in case of a loss to City.

We are thinking about the next game. Of course, this moment hurts. But we have to look forward together, with the demand and pride of representing this club, he said.

If domestic performance is worrying, the Champions League scenario is better: four wins and only one loss in the five rounds played so far.

The duel against Manchester City is seen as decisive in Real's season and for the future of the merengue coach.

According to the Spanish press, Xabi Alonso could even be dismissed in case of another defeat.

So, what do you think about all this?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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