/ Jan 15, 2026
Trending
Real Madrid fans are reeling after a shocking 3-2 defeat to Albacete in the Copa del Rey. This loss came just hours after the club dismissed their legendary coach. Consequently, many supporters are asking: Why did Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso? The decision has backfired immediately. Los Blancos now face a season in total disarray under new management.
The primary reason behind the dismissal involves deep-seated tensions within the squad. Although Alonso is a club icon, several key players reportedly felt his tactical system was too rigid. Furthermore, a bitter row with superstars like Vinicius Jr. over rotation policies fractured the dressing room.
Florentino Perez criticism Xabi Alonso also played a significant role in the exit. The president felt that the team’s identity was fading under Alonso’s methodical approach. After a devastating 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa, Perez decided that a change was necessary to save the season. Thus, the board chose to prioritize player morale over the coach’s long-term vision.
If you watch the Albacete vs Real Madrid 3-2 highlights, the lack of leadership is obvious. Albacete, a lower-division side, exploited a team that looked completely lost on the pitch. Even though Madrid managed to find the net twice, their play was disjointed. The highlights show a team struggling to control the tempo, which was previously Alonso’s greatest strength.
The debut of Alvaro Arbeloa has not gone as planned. Much of the Arbeloa squad selection criticism Albacete stems from his choice to rest key stars. By leaving Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois at home, Arbeloa took a massive gamble that failed. Fans argue that a knockout game was the wrong time to experiment with “La Fabrica” youth players.
Moreover, the Real Madrid defensive crisis January 2026 was made worse by these selections. With Antonio Rüdiger and Kylian Mbappé already sidelined by injury, the squad lacked the veteran presence needed to handle a hungry Albacete side.
The Real Madrid defensive crisis January 2026 is now the club’s biggest hurdle. The team has conceded nine headed goals this month alone, highlighting a total lack of aerial dominance. Without a clear tactical leader, the defenders appear to be playing without a plan.
To understand the full scope of this collapse, you can read our Real Madrid tactical analysis. It is clear that the Florentino Perez criticism Xabi Alonso has led to a vacuum that Arbeloa cannot yet fill. For more updates on the squad, visit our Spanish football news portal.
Real Madrid fans are reeling after a shocking 3-2 defeat to Albacete in the Copa del Rey. This loss came just hours after the club dismissed their legendary coach. Consequently, many supporters are asking: Why did Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso? The decision has backfired immediately. Los Blancos now face a season in total disarray under new management.
The primary reason behind the dismissal involves deep-seated tensions within the squad. Although Alonso is a club icon, several key players reportedly felt his tactical system was too rigid. Furthermore, a bitter row with superstars like Vinicius Jr. over rotation policies fractured the dressing room.
Florentino Perez criticism Xabi Alonso also played a significant role in the exit. The president felt that the team’s identity was fading under Alonso’s methodical approach. After a devastating 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa, Perez decided that a change was necessary to save the season. Thus, the board chose to prioritize player morale over the coach’s long-term vision.
If you watch the Albacete vs Real Madrid 3-2 highlights, the lack of leadership is obvious. Albacete, a lower-division side, exploited a team that looked completely lost on the pitch. Even though Madrid managed to find the net twice, their play was disjointed. The highlights show a team struggling to control the tempo, which was previously Alonso’s greatest strength.
The debut of Alvaro Arbeloa has not gone as planned. Much of the Arbeloa squad selection criticism Albacete stems from his choice to rest key stars. By leaving Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois at home, Arbeloa took a massive gamble that failed. Fans argue that a knockout game was the wrong time to experiment with “La Fabrica” youth players.
Moreover, the Real Madrid defensive crisis January 2026 was made worse by these selections. With Antonio Rüdiger and Kylian Mbappé already sidelined by injury, the squad lacked the veteran presence needed to handle a hungry Albacete side.
The Real Madrid defensive crisis January 2026 is now the club’s biggest hurdle. The team has conceded nine headed goals this month alone, highlighting a total lack of aerial dominance. Without a clear tactical leader, the defenders appear to be playing without a plan.
To understand the full scope of this collapse, you can read our Real Madrid tactical analysis. It is clear that the Florentino Perez criticism Xabi Alonso has led to a vacuum that Arbeloa cannot yet fill. For more updates on the squad, visit our Spanish football news portal.
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution
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