(ESP-ENG) Crisis en la Casa Blanca! - [Opinión]
Hello friends, good vibes to all.

On Monday, I came to this space to discuss what we saw on Sunday in the Spanish Super Cup final, mentioning whether it could be interpreted as a sign of a collapse at Real Madrid, given their level of play and the way they lost to Barcelona. The truth is, at that time my conclusion was that both the players and the coaching staff bore some responsibility, but what I didn't expect was that hours after that post, both the club and the manager himself decided to part ways. And yes, what seemed impossible ended up happening: Xabi Alonso out of Real Madrid after just over six months in charge. The nature of that decision? Well, for me, a complete disaster.
The famous MisterChip provided a damning statistic at the time of Alonso's departure. In his first 34 matches, his record was: 24 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses—exactly the same number Hansi Flick had in his first 34 games. And we all know how that turned out. But if he had a good record—because for me, those numbers aren't bad at all—why was he sacked? The open secret is that he never had control of the dressing room, and the spark that ignited everything was the clash he had with Vinicius at the Bernabéu, the result of the Brazilian's tantrum over being substituted; that's where it all fell apart. Commenting on these things might be considered tabloid fomenting, but I've always said that where there's smoke, there's fire.

Some players, accused of being the source of discord and completely rebellious, most notably Bellingham, Mbappe, Valverde, and Vini himself, seem to have shortened the Spaniard's time as manager. I think Alonso is a very good manager; otherwise, he wouldn't have achieved the feat he did at Leverkusen. But he needed time, and at a club like Real Madrid, waiting doesn't work. They've always prioritized immediate results over medium- and long-term planning, and if they have to change both managers and players repeatedly until they achieve success, then they will. But proof that the problem is much deeper than it appears at first glance is what happened yesterday in the Copa del Rey round of 16 when they were eliminated by Albacete, a second-division team fighting to avoid relegation.
Álvaro Arbeloa is the new manager, an interim one, and what he showed yesterday is a clear indication of the crisis at the Bernabéu. He took half of Castilla with him, leaving the starters to rest, presumably believing it would be a simple formality. The Merengues' performance was a complete disaster, with both their goals coming from set pieces. Their inability to generate any meaningful play against the modest Albacete is very worrying. Vinicius was invisible, the defense was ineffective, and from what I could see yesterday, Mastantuono didn't live up to the expectations many had when he first arrived at Madrid. The reality is that something is eating away at this team, and I think they should soon find the reason or reasons, because the season is still very long.

One of the things Real Madrid needs, in my opinion, is a good leader. That's something they currently lack. There should be a captain, but Carvajal isn't mentally present, Valverde has no voice, and well, let's not even talk about Vinicius. The era of Sergio Ramos, Raúl, Cristiano Ronaldo, or even Casillas himself is a distant memory. The squad needs to be revamped; if heads have to roll, then so be it. There's talk of "diva" players, spoiled brats who think they're untouchable; I don't deny that happens, but ultimately, nobody likes to lose. It's true that some have dropped considerably in quality—Bellingham is one of them—and for others, mental or personality issues prevent them from progressing, as is the case with Vinicius.
I do think the dressing room might be toxic, I do think there might be a lot of egos, but I also think there's more than enough quality. Injuries have been a factor to consider, but this doesn't diminish the serious problems the club currently faces. Eliminated from the Copa del Rey, four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and with the Champions League just around the corner. A very uncertain future lies ahead.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos leemos en la próxima!
Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!
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