Manager Alonso Walking a Thin Line at the Bernabéu Amidst Dressing Room Support.

No attacker in Real Madrid’s annals had gone without a goal for as long as Rodrygo, but at last he was unleashed and he had a declaration to send, executed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had failed to score in almost a year and was starting only his fifth appearance this term, beat custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure the lead against Pep Guardiola's side. Then he turned and sprinted towards the touchline to greet Xabi Alonso, the coach on the edge for whom this could signal an even greater relief.

“This is a challenging moment for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo stated. “Results are not going our way and I sought to prove the public that we are united with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the lead had been surrendered, another loss ensuing. City had turned it around, taking 2-1 ahead with “not much”, Alonso remarked. That can transpire when you’re in a “fragile” state, he continued, but at least Madrid had fought back. On this occasion, they could not pull off a comeback. Endrick, introduced off the bench having played very little all season, struck the crossbar in the closing stages.

A Delayed Judgment

“It proved insufficient,” Rodrygo admitted. The question was whether it would be sufficient for Alonso to hold onto his position. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been framed publicly, and how it was perceived internally. “We have shown that we’re behind the coach: we have given a good account, given 100%,” Courtois affirmed. And so the axe was postponed, sentencing pending, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla on the horizon.

A Different Kind of Setback

Madrid had been overcome at home for the second occasion in four days, continuing their recent run to just two victories in eight, but this was a more respectable. This was a European powerhouse, not a domestic opponent. Stripped down, they had actually run, the simplest and most harsh criticism not levelled at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a spot-kick, coming close to earning something at the end. There were “numerous of very good things” about this display, the boss stated, and there could be “no blame” of his players, tonight.

The Bernabéu's Mixed Reaction

That was not always the full story. There were spells in the latter period, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had whistled. At the final whistle, some of supporters had repeated that, although there was likewise pockets of appreciation. But for the most part, there was a subdued procession to the subway. “It's to be expected, we accept it,” Rodrygo said. Alonso added: “This is nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were times when they applauded too.”

Squad Backing Stands Strong

“I sense the support of the players,” Alonso affirmed. And if he backed them, they stood by him too, at least in front of the media. There has been a unification, talks: the coach had considered them, maybe more than they had accommodated him, meeting somewhere not quite in the compromise.

The longevity of a remedy that is remains an matter of debate. One little moment in the post-match press conference felt significant. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to do things his way, Alonso had let that implication to remain unanswered, answering: “I have a good rapport with Pep, we know each other well and he understands what he is talking about.”

A Foundation of Reaction

Above all though, he could be satisfied that there was a fight, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not let Alonso fall during the game and after it they defended him. Some of this may have been theatrical, done out of professionalism or self-interest, but in this climate, it was significant. The commitment with which they played had been as well – even if there is a danger of the most basic of standards somehow being promoted as a type of positive.

The previous day, Aurélien Tchouaméni had argued the coach had a plan, that their shortcomings were not his fault. “I think my teammate Aurélien nailed it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said post-match. “The key is [for] the players to change the approach. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a difference.”

Jude Bellingham, pressed if they were supporting the coach, also responded with a figure: “100%.”

“We persist in attempting to work it out in the changing room,” he elaborated. “It's clear that the [outside] speculation will not be helpful so it is about attempting to sort it out in there.”

“Personally, I feel the coach has been superb. I personally have a great relationship with him,” Bellingham added. “Following the spell of games where we were held a few, we had some very productive conversations behind the scenes.”

“Every situation ends in the end,” Alonso mused, perhaps speaking as much about poor form as everything.