Real Madrid prioritize Arbeloa over Alonso ahead of their match against Man City.

The Athletic reports that Alvaro Arbeloa is being highly rated as a potential head coach should Real Madrid make a change on the bench, amid immense pressure on Xabi Alonso. El Mundo (Spain) reveals that the match against Pep Guardiola's team at Santiago Bernabéu on December 11th is seen as Alonso's "last chance," following the shock 0-2 home defeat to Celta Vigo.

Arbeloa – the “on-site” solution and continuity

According to The Athletic's analysis, Arbeloa is preferred due to his deep understanding of Real Madrid culture. The former Los Blancos defender previously played in England for Liverpool and West Ham, and currently manages Castilla. This profile offers a less disruptive transition option should Real Madrid decide to make a change, especially when maintaining cohesion in the dressing room is a top priority.

Swedberg's brace, two red cards, and a chain reaction.

The defeat against Celta Vigo came from a brace by Williot Swedberg in the second half. Real Madrid finished the match with only nine men after Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras received red cards. According to El Mundo, the management considered sacking them immediately after the loss and focused all their attention on the performance against Man City.

In addition to the results, sources indicate that Real Madrid are “unhappy with the team’s image” recently, and are concerned that “a significant portion of the dressing room are not well-connected” with Alonso and his working methods.

Zidane, Klopp, and feasibility.

Former coach Zinedine Zidane continues to be linked with the job due to his close relationship with President Florentino Perez and his precedent of returning to save his position in his previous tenure. However, rumors suggest Zidane is waiting for the opportunity to coach the French national team if Didier Deschamps leaves after the 2026 World Cup. Jürgen Klopp is also considered a potential candidate, but The Athletic reports that Arbeloa is currently the top priority.

Man City's test and the injury crisis.

The situation is even more dire as Real Madrid will be without several key players in the upcoming match: Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga, Éder Militão, Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dani Carvajal are all injured. According to sources, Mbappé suffered a broken left finger just before the clash with Man City.

What did Alonso say?

Despite the criticism, Alonso insisted Real Madrid could bounce back: “If we all stick together, understand that this is football, we can turn things around. The season is still very long and having a bad game at home is normal. It’s not ideal, but we have to move forward.”

We understand the need for self-criticism and the high standards this club sets. We know that defeats are always painful.”

Impact on the race

Real Madrid are currently 4 points behind Barcelona in La Liga. The pressure therefore isn't just on the manager's job, but also on the points tally in the race for the top spot. The match against Man City – with their ongoing personnel and morale problems – could be the decisive turning point that shapes Real's season, as well as Alonso's future.

Key facts