"Having started this season at Real Madrid with 13 wins from his first 14 games, Xabi Alonso could be forgiven for thinking he was on to a good thing in his new role of Kindergarten Cop, tasked with instilling discipline among the spoilt and unruly brats in his care. While this excellent run was punctuated by a tonking at the hands of Atletico and a diva strop thrown by Vinicius Junior, Alonso seemed to have pulled off the unthinkable by introducing something approaching a work ethic."
"Leaks suggested the squad was split between the few players who were entirely sold on the 43-year-old's ethos and the apparent vast majority who took exception to this Jose Come-Lately's tyrannical demands that they turn up on time, run around a bit and occasionally sit through boring tactical presentations that lasted longer than a FaceSpace Snap."
"With Alonso's job security less secure than unsecured wifi at a Black Hat convention, matters finally came to a head on Sunday when Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final. Played in the traditional Spanish footballing hotbed of Jeddah, this five-goal white-knuckle ride went the way of Barcelona and when Alonso tried to summon his beaten players to reciprocate the post-match guard of honour afforded them by their bitter rivals, he was pointedly ignored."
Xabi Alonso began the season with 13 wins from his first 14 Real Madrid games and introduced a strict work ethic to a previously ego-driven group. A heavy defeat to Atletico and an internal row with Vinicius Junior punctured the momentum. Poor November results exposed a split squad between a few committed players and a majority resentful of Alonso's punctuality, fitness demands and lengthy tactical sessions. The Super Cup loss in Jeddah culminated in players ignoring Alonso's attempt to reciprocate a post-match guard of honour, with Kylian Mbappe reportedly leading the revolt. The episode left Alonso's job security untenable and led to an unwelcome summons upon his return to Madrid, after which Real Madrid announced a mutual agreement with Xabi Alonso.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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