Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ... What went wrong for Xabi Alonso & is Real Madrid broken? | The Big Thing
Jan 15, 2026
The hosts dive into the tumultuous split between Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid. They explore the on-field failures, behind-the-scenes drama, and the implications for Alonso's future. Discussions highlight player dissent, particularly surrounding Vinicius, and the challenges of Real Madrid's Galáctico culture. They debate whether Alonso's tactics were ever a good fit and analyze his success at Leverkusen versus the chaos at Madrid. Speculation arises about potential managerial replacements and the unpredictable nature of the club's success amidst controversy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Club Culture Overrules Coaching Projects
- Real Madrid backed star power over a managerial project, which undermined Xabi Alonso's authority.
- The club's culture prioritizes protecting and keeping players, limiting a coach's room to modernize.
Tactics Need Authority To Stick
- Alonso's on-field ideas briefly showed promise but collapsed as he lost licence to bench stars and enforce his methods.
- Player pushback (Vinicius, Mbappé) and Perez's quick decision-making made sustaining change impossible.
Vinicius Walked Out After Clasico
- After the Barcelona win, Vinicius exploded at Alonso and stormed down the tunnel, signalling deep locker-room friction.
- Vinicius then informed the club he wouldn't sign a new deal while Alonso remained manager.
