Xabi Alonso says his players are “angry” and determined to deliver an immediate response when Real Madrid face Manchester City in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture, following a frustrating 2–0 LaLiga defeat to Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu.
A double from Williot Swedberg condemned Madrid to one of their most disjointed domestic displays of the season, a night made worse by two late red cards and a first-half injury to centre-back Éder Militão.
The result, and the manner of the performance, has left the Spanish giants needing a swift reset before welcoming the Premier League heavyweight.
Alonso, who has built his reputation on control, structure and emotional discipline, cut a visibly irritated figure in his post-match news conference.
He did not hide his displeasure at how the match unfolded, nor his expectation that the squad must rediscover their composure with Europe on the horizon.
“We’re angry, it wasn’t the game or result we wanted,” Alonso said per ESPN “The injury to Militão hurt us, and it was hard to recover.
“We have to move on as quickly as possible, there’s a lot of league left, and on Wednesday we have the City game in the Champions League to react, and remove the bad taste from our mouths.”
The manager’s words reflected both irritation and urgency. With Manchester City looming—a side that punished Madrid heavily in previous European campaigns—Alonso emphasised that internal standards must remain uncompromising, even as the squad navigates injuries, pressure and expectations.
The Champions League has historically served as Madrid’s platform for reinvention, especially after domestic disappointments. Alonso signalled that the squad must rely on that mentality again.
The loss has heightened the stakes around the Manchester City match, but the coach insists the objective remains straightforward: a strong performance and a renewed sense of identity.
Asked directly whether his job could be at risk as Real Madrid face Manchester City as a result of the scrutiny surrounding the club heading into such a high-profile European tie, Alonso dismissed the notion without hesitation.
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“We’re playing for three Champions League points, that’s it,” he said.
“We’re in a good position [in the Champions League], that’s what’s at stake. We want to perform well and play better than we did today.”
His response was firm—measured, but firm. Alonso framed the situation not as a crisis but as a professional challenge, one Madrid expects to meet.
Meanwhile, Manchester City will be without their midfield general, Rodri, who remains sideline due to injury. The match will come to soon for the Spain international and would certainly be a great miss for the Pep Guardiola’s side.
Also, Mateo Kovacic is expected to be out of the contest. The Croatian is still recovering from the surgery he did a few weeks ago. John Stones also remains a doubt for the match after Guardiola confirmed that the Englishman got injured ahead of the weekend victory against Sunderland.