Underfire Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso will be hoping to stay in command of Los Blancos over the Christmas break, but he must first oversee a Liga victory over Sevilla to satisfy the club’s hierarchy. Pressure has built on the Basque coach in recent weeks as a result of a drop in form, with conjecture that if they lose at home to Manchester City in the Champions League last Wednesday, Alonso will be fired. His team’s battling performance in the subsequent 2-1 setback to Pep Guardiola’s squad saved Alonso, but after two underwhelming victories over more modest opposition, Alonso’s situation appears more vulnerable than ever.
Kylian Mbappe’s scintillating form this season — 28 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions — has carried Real, and Alonso was forced to start the Frenchman, who missed the loss to City due to a broken finger, for the full 90 minutes against Alaves last weekend and then in the Copa del Rey against third-tier Talavera.
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He scored three goals and assisted in both league games as Madrid overcame Alaves 2-1 before defeating Talavera 3-2 on Wednesday. Reported by Sports NDTV.
Mbappe’s total for the calendar year is presently at 58, one fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record from 2013, with one match remaining on the schedule.
Despite preserving a four-point lead over Liga leaders Barcelona and qualifying for the Spanish Cup’s final 16, Alonso’s reliance on Mbappe while struggling to get the best out of the rest of his star-studded squad will weigh heavily on club president Florentino Perez.
“The numbers are what they are but Rodrygo (Goes) has scored in both of the previous two games and we need more guys who have got that clinical edge,”
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