“He crossed a line”
Xabi Alonso poisons his coaching colleagues – pack formation after a war of words
Updated on January 9, 2026 – 11:09 amReading time: 2 minutes
In the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup, Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid 2-1. After the game, the coach and superstar Vinícius Júnior are the topic of conversation.
The sporting result faded into the background in the 81st minute. Although Real Madrid defeated city rivals Atlético 2-1 and will face FC Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), the main topic is the two coaches Xabi Alonso and Diego Simeone as well as Real superstar Vinícius Júnior.
What had happened? When he was substituted, nine minutes before the end, Vinícius gestured and shouted in the direction of the Atlético coach. The Argentine also reacted with hand signals and words, and a pack immediately formed between the teams on the halfway line. Both sides tried to appease. DFB national player Antonio Rüdiger accompanied Vinícius out of the situation, put his arm around the offensive star and said a few words in his ear.
However, Xabi Alonso, who otherwise seemed so calm, could not be calmed down so quickly. After the game, he even described his coaching colleague as a “bad sportsman” in a TV interview because he had heard the Argentine’s words towards Vinícius. “You can’t say things like that. There are lines you shouldn’t cross, and he crossed them.”
The Spanish TV channel Movistar+ had a camera pointed at the Atlético coach during the game, making it clear that he had told Vinícius during the game that Real president Florentino Pérez would throw him out. “Don’t forget this, he’s going to throw you out. He’s going to throw you out. Remember what I tell you.”
When asked about the situation surrounding Vinícius, Simeone did not want to comment further at the press conference. Instead he said, “I forgot what I told him.” He simply made it clear that everything that was said on the pitch stayed there.
Real captain Federico Valverde also played down the situation in the mixed zone after the final whistle. “What happened between Simeone and Vini is completely normal for such an intense game. A Brazilian and an Argentine simply live football differently.”