Only two wins from the last seven games, plus the fall from the top of the table: Real Madrid’s nerves are on edge after their next weak performance – and the Spanish press doesn’t skimp on criticism.
“Madrid is lost!”was the headline of “Marca” in its Monday edition. The 0:2 (0:0) in the home game against Celta Vigo, including several sending offs on Sunday evening, was the low point of the last few weeks for the “Royal”. “The Bernabéu is panicking”wrote the “AS”. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team is “a listless, uninspired bunch”the club, according to Marca, “chaotic” and “in crisis”.
Four points behind Barcelona
Across all competitions, Real have only managed two wins from their last seven games. Since winning the Clásico against FC Barcelona at the end of October, the Madrilenians have only scored half of all 18 possible points in the league. A five-point lead has now become four points behind Barcelona.
Accordingly, Alonso is also coming under increasing pressure. “Of course we are all angry”said the Spaniard after the defeat against Vigo: “It wasn’t the game we wanted, not the result we wanted.” As is so often the case, Real criticized the referee. “The referee’s decisions drove us crazy,” complained Alonso.
Pressure on Xabi Alonso is growing
First, Fran García saw a yellow card in almost exactly one minute, then a yellow-red card (65′) – for two fouls in an almost identical spot on the halfway line. In stoppage time, Álvaro Carreras received a yellow card for complaining, made a derogatory gesture towards referee Alejandro Quintero Gonzáles and was therefore shown red (90th + 2).
The Real stars didn’t agree with this, there was another dismissal of an official on the touchline as well as warnings against Rodrygo and Federico Valverde, who complained too much. Alonso had previously received a yellow card for complaining (73′).
Antonio Rüdiger came on early
And superstar Jude Bellingham was also warned, but because he wore his new jersey on and not off the pitch after a bleeding cut on his eye (62nd). Nevertheless, the coach and his players must take responsibility for the crisis, emphasized Alonso: “We have to look forward, all of us together.”
At Real, national player Antonio Rüdiger initially only sat on the bench, but was substituted on in the 24th minute for the ailing Éder Militao. Real hosts on Wednesday Manchester City for the Champions League game at the Bernabéu. You have to go there “react and get that bad taste out of your mouth”demanded Alonso.