Alonso’s Exit Sparks Real Madrid’s Power Tug-of-War: Players in Charge?

Final warning before departure

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's coach, issued a final warning to the club's authorities about the players' power before leaving Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid announced Alonso's departure from the managerial post a few hours after losing to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Leak-proof stance and last days

Cadena SER reported that Alonso does not leak news and has maintained this stance since his time with Bayer Leverkusen; he prefers to stay away from media noise, even though he has friends and contacts in the press.

Nevertheless, details of Alonso's final hours at Real Madrid were known thanks to people close to the coaching staff.

In the final meeting that led to his dismissal, Alonso told the club that players cannot be given so much authority, which he saw as the main problem of his time at Real Madrid. He argued that management left him unprotected and expressed bewilderment at the club's constant defense of the locker room.

Cadena SER added that the reason behind his exit lies in the belief that player power cost him his position on the bench.

Meanwhile, he argued it is impossible to dominate the locker room when the club always sides with players, even when he is right in his sporting decisions.

Those close to Alonso say he left for Christmas holidays believing he could stay, that things could be fixed, and that in late December there were signs of improvement for a title bid in the second half.

Punchline 1: If players run the show, the team sheet might need a shareholder meeting.

Punchline 2: In football, power shifts faster than a referee whistle; blink and it is gone.