Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso reportedly lashed out at his players during a training session, accusing them of behaving like children in a “nursery” — an incident said to have contributed to his eventual dismissal.
According to reports, Alonso “blew up” at his squad in early November, with sources suggesting the relationship between the coach and the players had already reached breaking point nearly two months before he was fired.
Alonso was relieved of his duties on Monday, just seven months after taking charge, amid growing speculation of a rift within the dressing room.
Spanish outlet MARCA claims the former midfielder had effectively “started to drift away” from the club as far back as November, around the time of the heated outburst.
The rant is described as a “cry of desperation, fatigue and near boredom,” as Alonso became increasingly frustrated by his players’ failure to meet his tactical expectations. He reportedly struggled to implement the high-intensity pressing style that brought him success at Bayer Leverkusen.
MARCA also reports that speculation surrounding Álvaro Arbeloa as a potential successor had been circulating within the dressing room well before Alonso’s departure. Arbeloa, who managed Real Madrid’s B team, was a regular presence at senior training sessions.
Alonso’s sacking came less than 24 hours after Real Madrid’s 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 44-year-old had been under mounting pressure due to reports of strained relations with certain players, as well as an alleged lack of alignment with the club’s board over tactical direction.