"I Have Seen Him Demoralized": Behind the Scenes with Xabi Alonso After Real Madrid's Victory

Real Madrid secured a 3-2 Copa del Rey victory against Talavera, but the television cameras missed a crucial aspect of the aftermath: Xabi Alonso's reaction. Javier Herráez, a Real Madrid journalist, shared his observations on El Larguero (Cadena SER), painting a picture of a manager far from celebratory.

According to Herráez, Alonso appeared visibly affected during the second half and after the final whistle, despite the team's advancement to the next round. "I have seen him completely unhinged," Herráez stated. He added, "I said the other day that I hoped he would stay and I was happy after the win against Alaves on a personal level, but today I saw him all game, because I was next to him with the headset, and when he left the pitch I saw him sunk, demoralized."

The context surrounding Alonso's reaction points to Real Madrid's struggles in the second half. After leading 2-0 at halftime, they nearly relinquished their advantage, allowing Talavera, a team from a lower division, to apply significant pressure and almost level the score. Herráez's account suggests that Alonso's emotional state stemmed from the team's failure to maintain control over a match they were expected to win comfortably.

While Alonso attempted to project a positive outlook in the post-match press conference, praising the win and progression, Herráez emphasized that the coach's body language conveyed a different message. He wasn't celebrating; he appeared visibly drained by the experience.