Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso confirmed reports that he has the backing of club president Florentino Pérez in a rare peak behind the curtain.
Alonso’s position at Madrid has, slightly ridiculously, come under scrutiny. The capital club remain top of La Liga and have lost just two of their 17 matches across all competitions this season—against city rivals Atlético Madrid and reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. However, anything other than rampant victories fall below the club’s lofty standards.
As Alonso’s predecessor Carlo Ancelotti once mused: “One thing I learned at Real Madrid is that a draw here is the prelude to a crisis. No jokes. You have to get used to that.”
Madrid have drawn back-to-back matches after losing 1–0 to Liverpool at Anfield earlier this month. These results have been played to a backdrop of general unrest in the dressing room, with Vinicius Junior reportedly one of many to be unimpressed with Alonso’s style of management.
The Brazilian forward, who has displayed multiple examples of open dissent towards his manager, is now thought to be refusing to sign a new contract given his tense relationship with Alonso.
Despite the growing discontent, the club’s former midfielder is said to have the faith of president Pérez, which was first reported by . The same Spanish outlet directly asked Alonso about this conversation and had their claims confirmed while he was previewing Madrid’s Champions League clash with Olympiacos.
