Real Madrid Poised to Sack Alonso, Seeks Replacement to Revive Fortunes

Real Madrid is reportedly considering firing manager Xabi Alonso after a shocking 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo at the Bernabéu. Club leadership held an emergency meeting that lasted past 1 AM to discuss Alonso's future, with sources suggesting he has just one match left to save his job: Wednesday's clash against Manchester City.

The timing couldn't be more dramatic. Real Madrid has managed just one win in their last five La Liga matches, transforming from five points ahead of Barcelona to four points behind their biggest rivals. All of this happened in about six weeks.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that Alonso has lost control of the dressing room. The emergency meeting saw divided opinions among decision-makers, which allowed Alonso to keep his position for now. But the consensus was clear: beat Manchester City or face the consequences.

Here's where it gets interesting. Pep Guardiola, Real Madrid's old nemesis, could end up being directly responsible for Alonso's dismissal if City wins on Wednesday. The irony isn't lost on anyone at the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid has already started looking for replacements. Two names top their list: Zinedine Zidane and Jürgen Klopp. Klopp currently serves as Red Bull's head of global soccer and has shown little interest in returning to the stress of day-to-day coaching. But an offer from arguably the world's biggest club would be hard to ignore.

Zidane could step in temporarily until the end of the season. A longer-term deal seems unlikely since he's widely expected to want the France national team job after Didier Deschamps leaves following the 2026 World Cup.

The defeat against Celta Vigo exposed deeper problems. Real Madrid couldn't break down a well-organized defense and looked lost tactically. The loss also ended their unbeaten home record just days before hosting City, sending a troubling signal about the team's mental strength.

For Alonso, Wednesday's Champions League match represents more than just three points. It's about survival at one of world football's most demanding clubs, where patience runs thin and results matter more than reputation.