“Nothing Surprises Me” – Alonso Shrugs Off Pressure as Mbappé Returns
Xabi Alonso tried to strike a calm note on Saturday, confirming Kylian Mbappé is ready to play against Alavés while brushing aside intensifying speculation about his own future at Real Madrid. The timing is significant. Results have dipped, patience is thinning, and every decision now feels loaded with consequence.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga trip to Alavés, Alonso confirmed that Mbappé has recovered from the short-term injury that kept him out of Wednesday’s 2–1 Champions League defeat to Manchester City. That absence was keenly felt, both on the pitch and in the stands, as Madrid was whistled off at the Bernabéu following another frustrating night.
“Mbappé is fine to play; we’ve got him back,” Alonso said at his pre-match news conference. “We’ll decide tomorrow. That’s obviously good news.”
It is good news in more ways than one. Mbappé was later named in the matchday squad, giving Madrid a much-needed attacking boost at a time when their margin for error is shrinking. The French forward remains central to Madrid’s short-term hopes and long-term vision, and his availability immediately changes the tone around the Alavés fixture.
The context around Alonso, however, is far less straightforward. ESPN reported earlier this week that club executives held internal discussions about the coach’s future following a run of just one win in five LaLiga matches. That poor domestic form has left Madrid four points behind Barcelona at the top of the table and searching for momentum.
Wednesday’s Champions League loss only intensified the scrutiny. Madrid were without eight first-team players, a disruption Alonso has repeatedly highlighted, but the performance still raised uncomfortable questions about structure, energy, and adaptability at the highest level.
Asked directly about reports suggesting his job is under threat, Alonso responded with measured defiance rather than denial.
“I’ve been in football for many years,” he said. “Nothing that happens surprises me. These are normal things, things that have happened in the past and will happen in the future.”
Rather than pushing back publicly, Alonso framed the situation as part of the role itself, emphasizing responsibility over resentment. It is a familiar posture for a coach who understands the unique pressure that comes with the Madrid bench.
Sunday’s match will again test that resolve. Madrid travels with a patched-up squad, particularly in defense. Center-back Dean Huijsen returns and joins Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio as the only available first-team defenders. Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Eduardo Camavinga remain injured, while Álvaro Carreras and Fran García are suspended after both saw red in last weekend’s home defeat to Elche.
Despite those absences, Alonso insisted the team still has enough quality to respond.
“Despite the absences, we have strengths and a squad large enough to field eleven Madrid players who will give their all,” he said. “The desire, the commitment to win, will be there. It’s an important match.”
Behind the scenes, communication lines appear open. Alonso confirmed he has been in constant contact with club president Florentino Pérez and other senior figures in recent days, an acknowledgment that decisions at Madrid are rarely made in isolation or silence.
He also addressed reports linking reserve team coach Álvaro Arbeloa with the first-team job. Rather than bristling at the suggestion, Alonso offered praise for his former teammate.
“I think Arbeloa could be Madrid coach in the future,” he said. “He’s doing things well.”
That comment alone reflects the unusual tension of the moment. Madrid are fighting for a title, reintegrating their biggest star, and quietly evaluating their coaching direction all at once. Victory at Alavés would ease the pressure, at least temporarily. Anything less risks amplifying the noise Alonso claims no longer surprises him.
For now, Mbappé is back, the stakes are clear, and Madrid moves forward under a manager fully aware that every match could shape what comes next.