Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory against Olympiacos in the Champions League and were finally back to winning ways after a string of poor results across all fronts. Despite going one goal down early in the match against the Greek side, Los Blancos kept their composure and managed to pull off a successful comeback.
Kylian Mbappé was undoubtedly the star of the show, scoring all four of Real Madrid's goals. He is now the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League. Vinícius Júnior also played some exceptional football, providing two assists. The Brazilian scored one goal as well but it was later disallowed due to offside.
That was, until, Real Madrid dropped two points in La Liga at the weekend, drawing against Girona, and moving down to second in the table.
Nevertheless, the Champions League win surely put the brakes on the speculation and rumours surrounding Xabi Alonso’s future at Real Madrid, as well as the apparent rift between the players and the manager.
Meanwhile, Mbappé has also shared his thoughts on the matter. Fabrizio Romano recently posted on X, quoting the Frenchman, who stated:
""We need to protect ourselves, the manager, the staff”.
“We want Madridistas to feel that we are together and all in the same direction: win titles this season"
Kylian Mbappé makes his position on Xabi Alonso crystal clear
Alonso’s managerial career at Real Madrid has started on a mixed note. Los Blancos are currently sitting at the top of the La Liga table and are also on track for automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16.
However, this cannot mask the fact that Real Madrid have lost almost all their matches against top clubs this season including against Atlético Madrid and Liverpool. So, they are far from their best, and there’s still work to be done for the Spanish tactician, which is understandable given the short time he has been at the club.
On the other hand, earlier reports suggested that Vinícius could end his stay at the club, with no signs of contract renewal talks progressing, and might seek a future elsewhere due to his strained relationship with Alonso. The Brazilian’s outburst in the El Clásico after being substituted further fueled these rumours.
That said, these reports now seem to hold little weight following the team’s recent Champions League victory, as Vinícius was seen cordially hugging the manager and in a relaxed mood during the match.
In any case, Mbappé’s words at a time like this will surely serve as a morale boost for the squad and a show of support for Alonso. Additionally, it’s a great reminder that, at the end of the day, what every Madridista wants is for the club to win more trophies.