Real Madrid have come to a decision on whether to sack Xabi Alonso after losing to Barcelona for the fifth time in six meetings, three of which were cup finals.
Real Madrid broke a run of four consecutive defeats to Barcelona earlier this season when they beat Hansi Flick’s side 2-1 in LaLiga. But the usual order was restored on Sunday night when Barcelona once again proved to be better than Real Madrid in the final of the Supercopa de España, held in the desert country of Saudi Arabia.
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Alonso took over for Carlo Ancelotti last summer, but just months into his time, he came under the microscope at the end of 2025. Real Madrid went through a period of only two wins in eight games between November 4 and December 10. The Spanish media focused heavily on the fact that Alonso was in danger, while the more moderate Fabrizio Romano claimed that the outcome of the Spanish Super Cup could be decisive for Alonso’s fate.
Real actually beat Atlético Madrid to advance to the final, but lost 3-2 to Barcelona despite a champion goal from Vinicius Jr.
The question on everyone’s lips is: will that defeat mean the end for Alonso? According to reporter Jose Felix Diaz – one of the more reliable journalists when it comes to Real Madrid news – the answer to that question is no. In a report for AS, Diaz stated: “Despite the defeat against Barcelona, the coach’s job is not in danger. It’s time for analysis and to find solutions to the team’s problems.”
He added: “The Super Cup and Real Madrid’s performance in it keeps Xabi Alonso’s job alive. In the club, defeat does not strengthen the team. Never, but the one in Jeddah against Flick’s Barcelona gives the former Bayer Leverkusen coach a chance to remain at the helm. There was no ultimatum because, as we’ve been saying for weeks, it’s all about the feeling, and as such, Real Madrid’s performance in the final for the first title this season opens the door to improved performance, rather than pointing directly at the coach.”
Instead of sacking Alonso, Real Madrid will now work with the Spaniard to address what they consider to be their biggest problem: keeping players injury-free.
Injuries have once again ravaged Real Madrid this season, and the “first priority” in the Spanish capital now is to improve the physical condition of the players. Diaz continued: “The first priority, without a doubt, is physical improvement and finally stopping the bleeding of injuries plaguing the Real Madrid squad. There is not a single game where a player is not injured. In the semi-finals, [Ferland] Mendy was injured, and in the decisive match, it was [Dean] Huijsen who ended up with a serious muscle strain. Niko Mihić’s return to the medical department will not be the only change in Real Madrid’s first team. The coaching staff must find the right formula to improve the squad’s form, and they will do so with the club’s support. At Valdebebas they think there is still time to have a good season, but it depends on improving the physical condition of the team.”
Also reached a decision on the January window
One way Real Madrid could give Alonso an artificial boost would be to give the coach an influx of new ones – and unscathed! – Players in the winter window. However, Real Madrid very rarely enter the market in January, as the club believes the winter window does not offer value for money. Furthermore, a player who arrives in the middle of the season may take time to adjust to the new environment and teammates, which often means minimal impact in the second half of the season.
Diaz concluded his report by insisting that as of now, Real Madrid are NOT planning to sign any new players this month. This won’t stop Los Blancos from being linked with every possible player from every possible league, although such reports should be taken with a grain of salt from now on.
Diaz explained: “So far, no one has mentioned entering the winter transfer market. It is a transition period they do not believe in, just as they do not trust the youth academy. Some of them will play in the Copa del Rey match against Albacete, but so far there has been no indication that they are considering the younger players as a solution for this season, except for Gonzalo [Garcia], who was already a first-team player.”
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