Jamie Carragher has delivered a blunt verdict on Xabi Alonso’s abrupt departure from Real Madrid, arguing that the Spaniard’s sacking may ultimately work in his favour despite an impressive set of results during his short reign at the Bernabeu.
Alonso was dismissed earlier this month, only months after succeeding Carlo Ancelotti.
Statistically, his spell was far from disastrous: Real Madrid won over 70% of their matches under his leadership, averaging more than two goals per game across all competitions, while remaining inside the top two domestically for most of his tenure.
Yet, following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, the club hierarchy opted for change.
“A little bit, but I think midway through the first half of the season, I did look at the situation and I did feel Xabi wouldn’t be in charge after the winter break,” Carragher told CBS Sports.
“I know that happened, so why would I be surprised?
“I actually think it’s probably better for Xabi that’s he out to be honest, because he went in with an idea and it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t going to be allowed to coach the way he wanted to or set up the team the way he wanted to.”
During Alonso’s stint, Real Madrid rotated through multiple tactical shapes, using at least three different formations in league play alone, while senior players logged some of the highest average minutes per match in La Liga: an indication of limited flexibility in squad usage.
“There were obviously problems with certain players who didn’t want to buy into that idea.
“So I actually think it was better for him, because even if he’d have had success – or the season had gone on and he’d have won the title – deep down he would have known ‘this is not my way, this is not the way I want to do things.'”
White Angel, a club that has averaged more than one managerial change every two seasons over the past decade, was always going to demand immediate alignment with its internal power structure. Carragher closed with a telling observation.
“There was obviously a situation where they said they wanted a coach – but they need a manager, not a coach.”
For Alonso, whose managerial reputation was enhanced by a domestic title and historic unbeaten run prior to Madrid, the exit may preserve his long-term vision: freeing him to lead a project fully on his own terms.
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