Bernabéu Turmoil: Xabi Alonso’s Departure and Kylian Mbappé’s Heartfelt Goodbye

Real Madrid is in the news, but not for Kylian Mbappe’s goals. This week, the club announced that Xabi Alonso is no longer the head coach, just days after losing 2–0 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 12, 2026. This decision surprised many in the football community.

Managerial changes are typical for Los Blancos, but the speed of this move has raised questions. The reaction from star player Mbappe has also caught attention. As Madrid navigates this challenging moment, fans are left wondering if this change was a needed strategy or an indication of deeper issues in management.

Mbappe Speaks Out

In football, a manager’s dismissal often leads to silence from players, indicating team unrest. However, this time, Kylian Mbappe was quick to respond. He took to Instagram on January 13, sharing positive thoughts about Alonso and highlighting his “clarity and confidence.” This shows that the team, despite rumors, might not have been entirely against the former manager. Mbappe’s immediate praise complicates the narrative, suggesting the players felt Alonso deserved another chance to improve results.

The Super Cup Loss

To understand the dismissal, you have to look at the Super Cup defeat. Losing a final is tough, but losing to Barcelona is especially painful. The 2–0 loss on January 11 not only hurt Madrid’s chances but also their pride.

This result showed tactical issues that had been concerning analysts since late 2025. Madrid appeared slow compared to the younger Barcelona squad. For the club’s management, this wasn’t just a bad match; it was a sign that the season could potentially derail. The swift decision to fire Alonso indicates the board was more worried about a trophyless season than the instability of changing coaches mid-season.

Expectation vs. Reality

It’s easy to forget that Alonso was appointed just in the summer of 2025. It seemed like a great fit; Alonso, a smart player turned successful manager at Bayer Leverkusen, was expected to bring a fresh vision to a talented team.

So, what went wrong? Insiders suggest a mismatch between Alonso’s strict tactics and the necessary flair from stars like Mbappe and Vinícius Jr. While Mbappe respected Alonso, reports indicated that the team struggled with the coach’s demands. In a high-stakes environment like Madrid, if the strategy doesn’t deliver results quickly, pressure builds rapidly.

Arbeloa Takes Charge

With Alonso out, former defender Álvaro Arbeloa steps in as interim coach. He faces a significant challenge, as he must not only win games but also unite a team that just saw their coach dismissed mid-season.

Arbeloa’s task involves managing the players’ egos and trying to salvage the ongoing domestic and European competitions. He’ll need to maximize the performance of Mbappe and the attacking squad right away. If he can find stability, he might position himself as a candidate for the permanent role, similar to what Zinedine Zidane and Santiago Solari experienced before.