Gareth Bale offers brutal verdict on Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid exit

Xabi Alonso was brutally sacked by Real Madrid earlier this month despite having only been appointed in the summer and Gareth Bale has now shared his verdict on his exit

Gareth Bale has claimed Xabi Alonso failed at Real Madrid because he didn’t ‘manage egos’ at the club. The Spanish coach was sacked earlier this month after just half a season in charge.

He was appointed in the summer as a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti after impressing with former side Bayer Leverkusen. But Alonso failed to get a tune out of those out of the Bernabeu.

Real lagged behind rivals Barcelona in the league, while a Spanish Super Cup defeat to the Catalan giants appeared to be the final straw for club bosses. Alonso’s spell at the Bernabeu was also littered with less than friendly relations with a number of his players; Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo among those not to see eye to eye with him.

And sharing his verdict on why Alonso ultimately failed with Los Blancos, Bale has suggested that a main reason was his failure to get to grips with the demanding dressing room.

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Speaking on TNT Sport, the Welshman said: “He’s an incredible coach. He has won what he has won at Bayer Leverkusen, he has won trophies, he has coached the team incredibly well. But when you arrive at Real Madrid, you don’t need to be a coach, you need to be a manager. You need to manage egos in the locker room.

“You have to pamper egos. You don’t need to do so many tactical things. In the dressing room there are superstars who can change games in the blink of an eye. So, yes, you can tell that he is a great coach and tactician, but at Real Madrid, obviously, it didn’t work.”

Alonso released a statement in the aftermath of his Real Madrid exit and admitted that his spell with the club was far from perfect. Writing on social media, he said: “This professional stage is over, and it didn’t go as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been an honor and a responsibility.

Were Real Madrid right to sack Alonso? Share your thoughts in the comments below

“I thank the club, the players and above all the fans and Madrid fans for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride that I did my best.”

Real Madrid moved quickly to appoint Alonso’s replacement at the Bernabeu, with Alvaro Arbeloa being promoted. The former defender endured a nightmare start to his spell, losing 3-2 to second-tier Albacete in the Spanish Cup.

They then beat Levante 2-0 in Arbeloa’s opening league game ahead of an eye-catching 6-1 win against Monaco in the Champions League.

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