Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso âthinks heâs Pep Guardiolaâ and has upset some of his players with his âdistantâ and ârigidâ approach to management, according to reports.
That is according to The Athletic, who provided analysis on Alonsoâs first months as Los Blancos boss after replacing Carlo Ancelotti in June.
Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid: Key details
- Vinicius Jr has only played the full 90 minutes three times in 2025/26
- Arda Guler has become an important player in Alonsoâs midfield
- Only defeat all season came against city rivals Atletico, losing 5-2 in La Liga
- Kylian Mbappe has 16 goals in 13 games this season
Replacing legendary manager Ancelotti was always going to be tricky, but Alonso was always the man Real Madrid wanted for the job.
Ancelottiâs laid-back approach on the training ground helped create a positive atmosphere around the club, and his attacking philosophy allowed players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham to express themselves.
Alonso commands similar respect due to his success as a manager at Bayer Leverkusen, but more importantly, his playing career.
The 43-year-old was managed by Ancelotti during spells with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, winning 14 trophies in his club career, including the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool.
The 2003 Spanish Player of the Year also won the World Cup and two European Championship titles with his country.
Madrid supporters know heâs a legend of the game, but that doesnât necessarily take any pressure off or buy him more time than anyone else.
Furthermore, with player power only getting stronger and Madrid boasting some of the biggest players in the world, Alonso has to convince his squad that heâs the man, which comes from his in-game management, training regimes, and how he communicates on a personal and coaching level.
Real Madrid players feel âdisrespectedâ by âdistantâ Alonso
The article from The Athletic lifts the lid on Alonsoâs methods at the Bernabeu. While there are some positives, especially on the results front, he has reportedly unsettled several players.
Itâs claimed that there have been âgrowing tensions between Alonso and some of the squadâ, with first-team stars âunhappy with his management and the way he has imposed several important changes since arriving in the summerâ.
Alonso has taken a âmore demanding and rigid approach to the teamâs styleâ, as well as âdistant and unapproachableâ, which are two opposites to life under ex-boss Ancelotti, who was âvery popularâ, resulting in some players feeling âdisrespected and dissatisfiedâ.
The Athletic are fortunate enough to have contacts at the club and there are some cracking quotes from them. They, of course, remain anonymous to protect relationships.
âXabi has tried to guarantee more discipline and order in the day-to-day, with control of schedules, more work in the gym at the prevention level, and group and individual video sessions.â
âSome of them have won so much without doing these things that when these have been imposed on them, they have complained. Itâs no secret, some cases have been public. Itâs normal, especially with those who were untouchable.â
âGone from having a coach who was hardly involved in training sessions to one who seems like just another player.â
âHe thinks heâs Pep Guardiola, but for now heâs just Xabi.â
So, Madrid players canât get away with anything under this jobsworth, and they donât like it.
And if the players buy what Alonso is selling and they continue winning football matches, he might become Pep Guardiola.
READ: No Messi as Ronaldo, Mbappe and Haaland headline footballâs highest earners list
Vinicius Jr ignoring Xabi Alonso in El Clasico apology was no oversight
One of the players upset with Alonso is Vinicius, who stormed off the pitch when his number was up in Sundayâs Clasico win over arch-rivals Barcelona.
He asked, âMe?â five times after seeing Rodrygo waiting to replace him. âAlways me. Iâm leaving the team, itâs better if I leave, Iâm leaving,â the 25-year-old said as he went straight down the tunnel, ignoring Alonso, who ignored the Brazilian.
MORE ON VINICIUS JR ON F365
đ Real Madrid: âFuriousâ Vinicius makes âfirm decisionâ on preferred transfer amid three reasons for verdict
đ Vinicius Junior has just one place to go after âIâm leavingâ Real Madrid bombshell
đ Real Madrid âwill sell anyone but Mbappeâ for Juventus star? Welcome to Man Utd, Vinicius JrâŠ
On Wednesday, Vinicius issued an apology to his âteam-mates, the club, and the president,â but not Alonso.
âToday I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during todayâs training, I also want to apologise again to my team-mates, the club, and the president.â
As The Athletic said, itâs clear that Vinicius meant to omit his manager from the statement. To summarise, it was âa necessary apology and a pointed omissionâ.
