Not a single Real Madrid player spoke to the media on Sunday night. They don't have to, of course, but after Los Blancos drew 1-1 with struggling Girona, every single squad member walked through the mixed zone without acknowledging the awaiting press. It was emblematic of a shift at the club, the good vibes within this great institution falling apart.
And how could they not? Madrid expects excellence and football without flaws. They are expected not only to win, but to win well. And of late, they simply haven't done enough winning. After Sunday's drab draw, they have now drawn three straight games in La Liga. The highest-ranked team of three to have taken a point off them are ninth-placed Rayo Vallecano.
While that is undoubtedly a disappointing run for a club of Madrid's size, it must be remembered that they are also in a period of transition after hiring a new manager in Xabi Alonso, who in turn has been dealing with a number of injuries that have upset the balance of his side somewhat.
However, amid reports of rifts in the dressing room led by some of the most highly-paid players on the planet, the last thing Alonso needed was for his side to throw away their lead at the top of the table to Barcelona. That's exactly what they have done, sacrificing a five-point advantage in the space of a month, and while the calls for Alonso to be sacked are far too premature, it has undoubtedly been a nightmarish few weeks for a man still starting out in his dream job.
Getty Images SportHow things stand
The actual picture of Madrid's season doesn't look too bad. Through 14 league games, they have won 10, drawn three and lost just one. They sit in second place, on 33 points, four behind Barcelona with their game in hand to come on Wednesday against Athletic Club. At their current pace, they will accrue 90 points, which should be enough to run Barca right down to the wire. Madrid have also played a slightly tougher schedule, and did win the first Clasico of the season in late October.
In the Champions League, things are looking rosy. Madrid have won four of five, dispatching Marseille, Juventus, Kairat Almaty and Olympiacos, while their only loss came at the hands of a much-improved Liverpool, who decided to break their torrid spell by turning in a one-off memorable performance against the Spanish giants in early November. An automatic spot in the last 16 is therefore within their grasp.
There are plenty of positives to take from how certain individuals have performed, too. Kylian Mbappe has accepted his role as a central striker and run with it, with his tally of 23 goals in just 19 games challenging the best goal-scorers in Europe. Elsewhere, new signings Alvaro Carreras has offered much-needed stability at left-back, Arda Guler has shown the kind of creative chops his early-career flashes promised and Jude Bellingham has been rounding into form after missing the first two months of the season while he recovered from shoulder surgery.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesInjury issues
Bellingham is not the only big name to have missed time due to fitness problems. His England team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold is the presumptive right-back of the future in Madrid, but he has started just six games since the Club World Cup, thanks in part to a hamstring injury suffered on the opening night of Champions League that sidelined him for six weeks. His main competition, Dani Carvajal, picked up a knee injury soon after, and will be out until at least January, which has led to Fede Valverde again being deployed in defence.
Vinicius Jr, meanwhile, was steadily worked into the side in the opening weeks of the season as Alonso looked to protect his legs, and his campaign has been more about off-field noise than his goal contributions (or lack thereof). Centre-backs Toni Rudiger, David Alaba and Dean Huijsen have also missed time.
Getty ImagesDressing-room divide
Still, Madrid should have enough talent to be dominant force in Spain and Europe. And yet it is that concentration of Galacticos which is proving to be Alonso's biggest headache.
The ex-Bayer Leverkusen coach has, according to , had his methods questioned by senior players within the squad and that messages are not getting through regarding his tactical plan for each game. A meeting was reportedly held between Alonso and his players in a bid to smooth out their differences ahead of the 4-3 win over Olympiacos, but Sunday's draw in Catalunya – described by one source to has being "a disaster" – suggests that it has not ironed out all the kinks.
It likely doesn't help Alonso that there are high-profile players within his squad who are barely seeing the field. Both Rodrygo and Endrick were linked with moves away from the Bernabeu this summer, yet Alonso insisted that both would be crucial to the project. That, however, hasn't been the case.
Rodrygo, in the midst of a 30-match goal drought, has continued to have been starved of opportunities, and has played just 442 minutes. Endrick has featured even less, with just 11 minutes to his name, and is set to finally leave on loan in January, likely to Lyon.
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AFPThe Vinicius problem
But of course, the biggest problem for Alonso is Vinicius. The Brazil winger is a wonderful footballer, charismatic and expressive with the ball, and equally vocal when he doesn't have it. He is also one of the more complex characters in this sport, so often the victim of abuse based on his reputation – a lot of it to do with the colour of his skin – yet, by all indications, a truly humble footballer. It is known, too, that Florentino Perez is a big fan of Vinicius'.
That is perhaps why he has felt emboldened to challenge his managers at times. During the end of Carlo Ancelotti's reign, Vinicius took an apathetic approach towards running without the ball, and thus far under Alonso, he hasn't always adhered to the manager's tactical demands. He has subsequently completed 90 minutes just seven times, and is often Alonso's first substitute when he needs to change his forward line.
Vinicius provided the lasting image of the Clasico, too, when he shouted at Alonso in frustration after he was removed from the game midway through the second half. He later apologised to the club and his team-mates, but left Alonso's name out of his social media post. The pair's relationship is said to be the driving force behind Vinicius' unwillingness to discuss a new contract, despite his current deal being set to expire in the summer of 2027.