Real Madrid in Turmoil: Rumors of a Move Against Alonso After a Shocking 5-on-4 Defensive Collapse

In the early hours of December 8, Real Madrid suffered a painful 0–2 home defeat to Celta Vigo in a key clash of La Liga Round 15, falling four points behind Barcelona in the title race. In the aftermath of the loss, Spanish media dropped a bombshell—claiming that some players in the squad are actively hoping for coach Xabi Alonso to be dismissed, with his departure now seen as increasingly likely.

Locker-room tensions at the Bernabéu have been simmering all season. Reports of player dissatisfaction with Alonso have surfaced repeatedly, and compared to last year, the intensity and commitment on the pitch appear to have noticeably declined. Many players are believed to harbor grievances against the coach.

Since taking charge, Alonso has made a series of bold tactical and personnel adjustments, moves that inevitably disrupted the interests of certain star players. As results have slipped, these internal conflicts have only been magnified. At present, it appears that Kylian Mbappé is the lone figure firmly standing by Alonso. But when Mbappé fails to score, Alonso is left exposed, facing the full force of mounting pressure.

Against Celta Vigo, Real Madrid struggled badly at both ends of the pitch—especially in defense. Several players looked as though they had lost the will to fight for their coach. The second goal perfectly captured the team’s collapse: five Real Madrid players were back defending, yet they failed to stop a four-man attacking move from Celta.

When the final through ball released the attacker clean through on goal, Rüdiger abandoned the chase entirely, standing still with his hands on his hips as he watched the ball hit the back of the net. At the same time, Bellingham spread his arms in frustration, Valverde lowered his head in disappointment—an image of a team that had clearly run out of belief and spirit.

Spain’s Channel Six commented bluntly: “It’s an open secret that some Real Madrid players are hoping for Alonso to be sacked. Everyone can see that certain individuals genuinely want him gone. The problem is that Alonso still hasn’t found a solution to this crisis.”

The report added, “Real Madrid can’t fire seven players in one go—so in the end, the coach will pay the price. Some players simply don’t care about the club anymore; they only care about collecting their wages.” It was also revealed that after the defeat, Alonso did not return to the dressing room, a dramatic sign of how tense the situation has become.