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Mbappé's Firestorm: A Guard of Honor Shattered and a Manager's Job in the Balance

12 January 2026

Mbappé's Firestorm: A Guard of Honor Shattered and a Manager's Job in the Balance
Mbappé's fiery response steals the show as Barcelona lift the Spanish Super Cup.

What happened at the trophy ceremony?

The moment Barcelona clinched the Spanish Super Cup exposed Mbappé's influence inside Real Madrid and cast doubt on Xabi Alonso's leadership. While TV cameras tracked the medal ceremony, other lenses fixed on Alonso and his superstar striker Mbappé. Alonso reportedly asked Madrid's medalists to step forward and form a guard of honor for Barcelona, a gesture toward the Cup winner. Mbappé's angry response arrived quickly, refusing the coach's request and urging Madrid's players to leave the pitch. In the end, the squad appeared to follow Mbappé, while Alonso's call went unanswered, hinting at deeper tensions in the locker room.

What this could mean for Real Madrid and Alonso

Does this moment signal the end of Alonso's Real Madrid chapter, or simply reflect a clash between authority and a star player's autonomy? Leaked notes from the Real Madrid fortress suggested Pérez gave Alonso a final chance by letting him lift the trophy, a reward that could buy time after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona and the Cup loss Pérez valued. As the dust settles, the episode serves as a reminder that leadership in football can hinge on a single public moment.

Punchline: If someone told you a guard of honor could turn into a stand-off, congrats, you just watched a strategy meeting with a front-row seat.
Punchline 2: Mbappé is playing chess while Alonso is still checking the instructions—guess who’ll coach the punchline?

Author

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Emma Amme

I am Emma Amme, an English sports journalist born in 1998. Passionate about astronomy, contemporary dance, and handcrafted woodworking, I share my sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sparked Mbappé's outburst?

Mbappé refused his coach's request for a guard of honor and urged Madrid's players to leave the pitch.

What did Alonso request from the players?

He asked the players who had just received medals to form a guard of honor for Barcelona, a gesture of goodwill toward the Cup winner.

What was rumored about Pérez's stance?

Insiders suggested Pérez gave Alonso a final chance by letting him lift the Super Cup, with his future at Madrid unclear after the 3-2 loss to Barcelona.