Inside the Crisis at Real Madrid: Uncovering the Challenges and Turning Points

The international break comes at an important time for Real Madrid. Their last two matches resulted in a loss against Liverpool (1-0) and a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano (0-0), sparking concerns within the club. Overall, their performance has been decent. They are currently in the top eight of the Champions League (7th place) and hold a three-point lead at the top of La Liga over FC Barcelona, whom they defeated at Santiago Bernabéu three weeks ago (2-1). The situation could certainly be worse.

However, unrest is brewing in the locker room. Several players, including Andriy Lunin, Gonzalo Garcia, Fran Garcia, Endrick, and Dani Ceballos, are dissatisfied with their playing time. Others, like Vinicius Jr., are struggling to adapt to new coach Xabi Alonso’s methods. His recent comments about the environment within the Brazilian national team and the coaching style of Carlo Ancelotti have drawn attention. Alonso faces challenges but does have supporters within the team.

A Series of 4 Consecutive Away Matches

“What do you want me to say? I have nothing to say. At Real Madrid, when we don’t win, people talk a lot, too much,” Kylian Mbappé lamented this week, showing support for the coach. “We know we haven’t won two matches and haven’t played well, but after the break, we’ll come back and beat Elche. We’re at the top of La Liga and in the top 8 of the Champions League. It’s not perfect, of course,” he added, acknowledging the high expectations within the club.

“When things aren’t going well on the field, we hear a lot of noise. But we are united, and we are going to win all the titles this year.” Only victories can ease the tension. Alonso is aware of this and views the 40-day block before the winter break as a pivotal point in the season, according to Marca. They have four consecutive away matches ahead (Elche, Olympiakos, Girona, and Athletic) that could help restore harmony in a locker room that was once considered peaceful under Ancelotti, who labeled it the “healthiest locker room in the world.” The coming weeks are crucial.