“Already last week we were saying that some players are not happy with Xabi Alonso’s work. There are a lot of players who are unhappy with Xabi’s management, with his lack of sensitivity and with his methods. That’s the reality: there are many players in that dressing room who are not happy with the coach.”

“I’ve been told that the players noticed Xabi didn’t punish Vinícius after his behaviour in the Clásico. The team didn’t want Vinícius to be punished, but when there was no sanction, the players sensed a loss of authority from the coach. The coach didn’t do anything about it.”

“I was surprised by Mbappé’s post-match comments. He’s asked whether the dressing room is with Xabi Alonso and he says he doesn’t know what to say, that the journalists know better what Real Madrid are like. Of course he ends by saying that everyone is united, but he starts by saying he has nothing to say. If you’re with your coach, you say so straight away – especially when you’re as strong a communicator as he is.”

“The facts are these: 13 wins in 16 games, top of La Liga with a three-point lead over Barcelona, and among the top eight in the Champions League. You have to demand even more from the coach in that sense, but Xabi has a big problem if the dressing room is not with him. And then, who is supposed to be in charge here? The players? At the end of last season we were all asking for him to come and for everyone to start running. Now are we supposed to bring in Ancelotti or Zidane so that the players are happy? And if they don’t win with them either, who will we ask for next – Mourinho? Xabi can make mistakes, but it’s not healthy to allow players to complain that the coach is too authoritarian.”

“We all know something isn’t right in there. The dressing room has a bad feeling about the coach.”