Real Madrid vs Man City: Xabi Alonso Faces Pressure as Injuries Mount

Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso remains optimistic ahead of Champions League clash with Manchester City, despite recent poor form and injury concerns, including Kylian Mbappe.

“We're all in this together. United. Convinced that this is an opportunity. We need to have the energy to connect...”

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's manager, is feeling the heat ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City, but he's remaining optimistic. Despite a disappointing 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo on Sunday, where Real Madrid was reduced to nine players, Alonso believes his team can bounce back.

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The Spaniard has been under pressure due to Real Madrid's recent poor form, with only two wins in their last seven matches across all competitions. However, Alonso is confident that his team can turn things around, emphasizing unity and a strong performance at the Bernabeu stadium.

Real Madrid currently sits second in LaLiga with 36 points, four points behind leaders Barcelona. The team is also fifth in the Champions League standings with 12 points, three behind leaders Arsenal.

Real Madrid's coach Xabi Alonso is facing a tough challenge ahead of their Champions League match against Manchester City, with as many as eight key players potentially unavailable, including top scorer Kylian Mbappe, who's dealing with a muscle injury. Mbappe missed training on Tuesday, sparking concerns about his participation in Wednesday's crucial match.

Alonso remained optimistic despite the setbacks He added that the team has drawn conclusions from their recent 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo and is focused on bouncing back against City.

Mbappe's absence would be a significant blow, given his impressive form this season with 25 goals in 21 games. Other injured players include Eder Militao, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, and Ferland Mendy.

“Football can ‌change quickly... for good or for bad,” Alonso told a press conference on Tuesday. “After the Celta match, we've already drawn our conclusions.

“Now it's just City in our minds. It's the Champions League, we're at the Bernabeu. It ⁠will be different because of the energy that's created. That's what's on our minds, ‌what's ahead of us.”

Xabi Alonso is standing firm despite the pressure, saying he's focused on the game against Manchester City and not worried about his job. “When you coach Real Madrid, you have to be prepared for situations like this,” he said, emphasizing team unity. Alonso believes his squad can bounce back, saying, “Football can change quickly... for good or for bad.”

“We ‍are a team, we are all united,” he said.

“To reverse the disappointment, which is normal, all we're thinking about now is City.”

Real Madrid and Manchester City have a intense rivalry, having faced off 12 times in the past decade, with their matches often deciding Champions League titles. Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2022 and 2024, beating City en route, while City took the trophy in 2023 after a thrilling semi-final win over Real.

Xabi Alonso remains upbeat despite Real's recent struggles, saying, “Football can change quickly... for good or for bad.” He's focused on Wednesday's match, emphasizing team unity and a strong performance at the Bernabeu stadium.

Real Madrid's recent form has been disappointing, with only two wins in their last seven matches. However, Alonso believes his team can bounce back against City, who are led by Pep Guardiola. The match is a crucial opportunity for Real to get back on track.

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— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 9, 2025

“We're all in this together. United. Convinced that this is an opportunity. We need to have the energy to connect with the Bernabeu. If that happens, we have a chance to win,” he said.

“In football, you have to adapt and learn. Some days ⁠are good, others are not,” he added. “But we are making progress ‌with every match. Good thing we have a challenge tomorrow. The best way to move forward is to face it. It's a challenge that we must rise to.”

Real Madrid is currently 5th in the Champions League group stage with 12 points, trailing leaders Arsenal by 3 points. Manchester City is 9th with 10 points, needing a strong finish to secure a top-8 spot and automatic qualification to the last 16.