Xabi Alonso: Real Madrid boss granted stay of execution after loss

The beginning that Actual made appeared like they’d turned the nook, taking the sport to Metropolis and stepping into entrance courtesy of Rodrygo’s low drilled effort.

However they conceded twice within the last 10 minutes of the primary half by way of Nico O’Reilly poking in from shut vary and Erling Haaland’s penalty.

The Actual ultras dressed all in white behind the objective had been chanting and clapping till that time, however when the Norwegian’s spot-kick rippled the online in entrance of them they have been silenced.

Ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso took over earlier than the Membership World Cup in the summertime and began this season by successful 13 of his first 14 video games, nevertheless it began to go incorrect after the loss at Liverpool on 4 November.

Actual have received simply twice in eight video games since and there was an obvious conflict of cultures on the membership with gamers seemingly not shopping for into his strict strategies and eager to undertake a urgent fashion of play.

Requested if his gamers had performed for him, Alonso stated: “The efficiency has been intense. An expert Champions League stage recreation. They’ve given their finest, so from my aspect no complaints for something.

“It’s laborious to take one other defeat however we tried till the tip.”

England worldwide Jude Bellingham advised TNT Sport that the squad have been “100%” behind their supervisor.

“I personally have an amazing relationship with him, loads of the lads do as properly,” he added. “After the primary run of video games we had some actually nice conversations internally and we felt we have been on the again aspect of that type.

“Previously couple of video games we let ourselves down once more. No-one’s downing instruments, no-one’s complaining and moaning pondering the season is over.”