Manager Alonso Navigating a Fine Line at the Bernabéu Amidst Squad Support.

No forward in Los Blancos' record books had gone scoreless for as extended a period as Rodrygo, but finally he was unleashed and he had a statement to send, performed for the cameras. The Brazilian, who had not scored in an extended drought and was starting only his fifth appearance this season, beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand his team the lead against the English champions. Then he spun and ran towards the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso, the manager on the edge for whom this could prove an even greater liberation.

“It’s a challenging period for him, just as it is for us,” Rodrygo said. “Results are not going our way and I sought to show people that we are as one with the coach.”

By the time Rodrygo addressed the media, the advantage had been taken from them, a setback ensuing. City had come back, taking 2-1 ahead with “minimal”, Alonso observed. That can transpire when you’re in a “sensitive” situation, he elaborated, but at least Madrid had fought back. This time, they could not engineer a turnaround. Endrick, on as a substitute having played 11 minutes all season, struck the woodwork in the closing stages.

A Delayed Sentence

“It wasn’t enough,” Rodrygo admitted. The question was whether it would be adequate for Alonso to keep his role. “We didn’t feel that [this was a trial of the coach],” veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois remarked, but that was how it had been presented externally, and how it was felt privately. “We have shown that we’re supporting the manager: we have performed creditably, offered 100%,” Courtois concluded. And so judgment was postponed, any action pending, with matches against Alavés and Sevilla looming.

A Different Form of Loss

Madrid had been defeated at home for the second occasion in four days, perpetuating their uninspiring streak to just two victories in eight, but this felt a little different. This was Manchester City, rather than a lesser opponent. Simplified, they had shown fight, the easiest and most harsh accusation not aimed at them in this instance. With a host of first-teamers out injured, they had lost only to a messy goal and a penalty, coming close to earning something at the death. There were “many of very good things” about this showing, the head coach said, and there could be “no criticism” of his players, tonight.

The Fans' Ambivalent Response

That was not entirely the full story. There were moments in the second half, as irritation grew, when the Santiago Bernabéu had voiced its disapproval. At full time, some of supporters had continued, although there was also some applause. But mostly, there was a quiet procession to the exits. “We understand that, we comprehend it,” Rodrygo commented. Alonso added: “There's nothing that hasn’t happened before. And there were instances when they cheered too.”

Dressing Room Backing Is Strong

“I feel the backing of the players,” Alonso affirmed. And if he supported them, they supported him too, at least for the media. There has been a unification, talks: the coach had listened to them, arguably more than they had accommodated him, meeting a point not quite in the compromise.

How lasting a solution that is continues to be an unresolved issue. One little incident in the post-match press conference felt telling. Asked about Pep Guardiola’s suggestion to follow his own path, Alonso had permitted that idea to remain unanswered, replying: “I share a good relationship with Pep, we know each other well and he knows what he is saying.”

A Starting Point of Fight

Most importantly though, he could be satisfied that there was a spirit, a reaction. Madrid’s players had not given up during the game and after it they stood up for him. Part of it may have been theatrical, done out of professionalism or self-preservation, but in this tense environment, it was meaningful. The effort with which they played had been as well – even if there is a risk of the most fundamental of requirements somehow being elevated as a kind of achievement.

Earlier, Aurélien Tchouaméni had insisted the coach had a vision, that their shortcomings were not his responsibility. “I believe my colleague Aurélien said it in the press conference,” Raúl Asencio said after full-time. “The only way is [for] the players to change the mindset. The attitude is the key thing and today we have seen a shift.”

Jude Bellingham, asked if they were behind the coach, also answered with a figure: “100%.”

“We persist in trying to solve it in the locker room,” he said. “It's clear that the [outside] speculation will not be beneficial so it is about trying to resolve it in there.”

“Personally, I feel the manager has been superb. I personally have a excellent relationship with him,” Bellingham concluded. “After the run of games where we drew a few, we had some honest conversations internally.”

“All things ends in the end,” Alonso mused, possibly referring as much about adversity as everything.