The weight of the Bernabéu on his shoulders
There is a particular kind of loneliness that accompanies the Real Madrid manager. It is the solitude of a man who knows that 125 years of history, 15 Champions League trophies, and the expectations of millions rest on every decision he makes. For Xabi Alonso, that weight had become almost unbearable.
Just days earlier, Manchester City had left the Bernabéu with all three points. Before that, Celta Vigo had inflicted a humiliating home defeat. The whispers had become shouts. Zinedine Zidane's name echoed through the corridors of power. Jürgen Klopp, enjoying his sabbatical at Red Bull, was reportedly on Florentino Pérez's speed dial. The clock was ticking.
Then came Vitoria. Then came salvation.
A teenager's courage in the storm
When Victor Valdepenas walked onto the pitch at Mendizorroza on Sunday evening, he became the symbol of everything Real Madrid are fighting against this season. At 19, the Castilla defender was thrown into the fire not because of tactical preference, but because there was simply nobody else left standing.
Eight first-team players injured. Three suspended. A squad held together by prayers and promising youngsters. This was not the galáctico machine that conquered Europe; this was a team in survival mode.
Valdepenas played with the fearlessness of youth. One mistake led to Carlos Vicente's equalizer, a moment that could have broken lesser men. But the teenager refused to crumble, and his manager refused to abandon him.
"I congratulate him from here," Alonso said after the match. "Not only for his debut, but for the match he played. He competed and was very steady. Making your debut with Real Madrid is always a special day."
The embrace that spoke volumes
The 76th minute will be remembered not just for Rodrygo's winner, but for what followed. As the ball nestled in the net, the Brazilian sprinted towards the touchline. His destination was not the corner flag, not the celebrating fans. It was Xabi Alonso.
The embrace between player and manager lasted several seconds. Vinícius Júnior, who had delivered the assist, joined them. It was a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion that spoke louder than any press conference or carefully crafted statement ever could.
When Vinícius was substituted late in the game, he too sought out his manager. Another hug. Another message of solidarity. The dressing room that had reportedly been "lost" just weeks ago was now standing as one.
"We're all in this together"
Alonso's post-match words were measured but meaningful. The former Liverpool midfielder, who knows better than most how quickly football can turn against you, chose unity as his theme.
"We're all in this together," he told reporters. "We're fighting through the good times and the not-so-good times. Today, with the conditions we had, the team competed very well."
These were not the words of a man who has given up. These were the words of a leader who has found something worth fighting for. The crisis had not broken Alonso; it had revealed his character.
Spanish newspaper AS, which had been among the most vocal in questioning Alonso's future, noted a significant shift in the atmosphere. "Whatever happens with Xabi Alonso," they wrote, "it could be said that he's winning his first major battle at Real Madrid: winning back the dressing room."
The Klopp question answered, for now
Throughout the week, Jürgen Klopp's name had been impossible to escape. Sky Germany reported him as a candidate. Spanish media ran endless speculative pieces. The narrative seemed inevitable: Alonso out, Klopp in.
But Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff poured cold water on those dreams. "Jürgen has made it clear that he doesn't want to be a coach at the moment," he stated. The German's sabbatical from the dugout continues, leaving Real Madrid to work with what they have.
What they have is a manager who refuses to surrender. What they have is a squad beginning to rediscover its identity. What they have is hope.
Four points, three matches, one mission
The victory at Alaves has not solved Real Madrid's problems. They remain four points behind Barcelona with less than half the season played. Their Champions League position is precarious. Their injury list reads like a hospital ward.
But something has shifted. The tension that had poisoned the atmosphere has begun to dissipate. Players who had seemed disconnected from their manager are now running to embrace him after goals. A 19-year-old debutant is being celebrated rather than scapegoated.
Wednesday brings the Copa del Rey trip to CF Talavera, a fourth-tier opponent that should provide respite. Then Sevilla visit the Bernabéu on Saturday in what will be the final match before the winter break. Two more opportunities to build momentum. Two more chances to prove the doubters wrong.
The long road ahead
Nobody at Real Madrid is pretending that one victory has transformed the season. The structural issues remain: a defence decimated by injuries, a midfield still searching for its optimal balance, an attack that too often relies on individual brilliance rather than collective movement.
But football is not always about tactics and formations. Sometimes it is about belief. Sometimes it is about a group of men deciding that they will fight for each other, regardless of what the outside world says.
On Sunday night in Vitoria, Real Madrid found something they had been missing. They found unity. They found resilience. They found reasons to believe that Xabi Alonso might be the right man after all.
The road to redemption is long and uncertain. But for the first time in weeks, Los Blancos are walking it together.
