Ex-Real Madrid star explains what went wrong for Xabi Alonso – ‘Players are the bosses’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid play their most important match of the season so far later tonight when they take on Bayern Munich in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.

Given that they lost the first leg 1-2 last week, the Merengues will need to step up in a big way in order to stand a chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

If not, they are staring at another season without any major trophies, having failed to win any big titles last term either, which led to the departure of Carlo Ancelotti.

Now, Alvaro Arbeloa, too, could face a similar situation at the end of the season, with the Spanish tactician failing to turn things around in a big way after replacing Xabi Alonso midway through the season.

Steve McManaman talks Real Madrid difficulties

Ahead of tonight’s must-win encounter, former Real Madrid and Liverpool player Steve McManaman spoke to TNT Sports, wherein he discussed the difficulties that managers face at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“The player is incredibly powerful. I think that’s the crux of the matter. Arne Slot is the boss at Liverpool, Pep Guardiola is the boss at Manchester City… The players are the bosses at Real Madrid,” the former England international said.

Continuing, he added: “Once the coach tells them to play a certain way, they go out and play a completely different way. And it’s always been like that.”

Steve McManaman says players have all the power at Real Madrid. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Talking about what a coach needs to succeed at Real Madrid, McManaman stated: “The coach has to be a mix of a bit of genius and his methods of persuasion.

“But he also has to be able to embrace them and make them feel that all 25 are part of the team. The players have to enjoy training; you can’t bore them with a lot of tactical work and video sessions.” 

The former midfielder cited how Ancelotti excelled at that and pointed out how Xabi Alonso struggled in that aspect.

“It’s a very fine line between making them happy and making them play well. Ancelotti did it, Del Bosque did it… Then other very loud coaches came along and ran out the door,” he said.

“I don’t think Xabi Alonso was one of those loudmouths; he simply wanted to implement his Leverkusen style of play, and the players didn’t buy it.”