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Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso maintained he has the support of his players and staff despite reports suggesting he faces the axe if Real Madrid loses to Manchester City on Wednesday.
"This is a team, and we're all in this together," he declared. The Spanish team has managed just two victories in seven matches, beginning with the Champions League defeat at Anfield last month. Sunday's disastrous home loss to Celta Vigo, which saw three players dismissed and the side jeered off the pitch, leaves Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points in the La Liga title race.
Madrid held a five-point advantage in October after Alonso began his tenure with 13 victories from 14 matches. There's now speculation over who could replace Alonso, with Jurgen Klopp's name being thrown around. Zinedine Zidane is another candidate.
However, the hierarchy of the 15-time European champion convened an emergency meeting following the shambolic Celta defeat. Marca reported that Alonso will be dismissed if the team endures another loss at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Yet Alonso, who only succeeded Carlo Ancelotti during the summer, stated in his pre-match press conference this morning: "This is a team, and we're all in this together.
"When you're the Real Madrid coach, you have to be prepared to enjoy these situations calmly and responsibly. I'm really looking forward to everything that's coming, which starts tomorrow.
"The Celta game is over, and today it's just City. In football, things can change quickly, and we're in that moment now.
"City is the only thing on our minds. It’s the Champions League, we’re playing at the Bernabeu, and I’m sure the atmosphere will be special and different because of the energy that’s created. That’s what’s on our minds right now."
When questioned directly about rumors surrounding his potential sacking, the former Bayer Leverkusen manager said: "My focus is on the pitch, on City. I'm focused on that.
"The fans will be looking ahead to tomorrow's game, they'll be getting excited, just like us, and we hope to play a good match and shake off this feeling we had yesterday."
Alonso has encountered difficulties with a star player this season. Vinicius Jr. responded angrily when substituted during the 2-1 victory against Barcelona in October, where Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham found the net.
Ancelotti, who has now assumed the Brazil manager role, employed a far more player-friendly strategy compared to the demanding Alonso.
When asked whether he would make the same substitution of Vini again, Alonso replied: "I don't know why you're asking. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
"We're in a different place now. What I see on the field is the decision I have to make, and I have no doubt about that."
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