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NO GIFTS FOR THE XAB

Heading into midweek's encounter against the Premier League champions, the position of Xabi Alonso in the dugout seemed as uncertain as a Spanish omelette being flipped. Only 14 games into his reign, the only unsightly blot on the 44-year-old’s record was an unacceptable 5-2 hammering against their city rivals. But, from the beginning of November, Madrid have only won three in nine, including their most unpalatable performances being stalemates with perceived Spanish league lesser teams, and ending with Sunday’s embarrassing loss at the Bernabéu to the Galician side.

In Europe's premier club competition, the Spanish giants still look set to secure an all-important quarter-final place despite their reverse to City, a loss that was met with shrill whistles from the crowd from demanding fans who had actually just seen their knack-ravaged squad put in a decent shift.

"When you don’t win in your own stadium that can happen," sighed Alonso of the reaction from the notoriously demanding faithful. "The team kept going, we fought right to the final whistle and despite all the problems we have [with injuries] the players gave everything. For this match there is nothing to criticise. Our form over the past two months has been poor, or what we wanted. We’re self-critical, but must continue working and believing it will pass."

Despite rumours the club's overpaid prima donnas are not enamored with Alonso’s insistence on making them “do” tactics, sit through lengthy video presentations and compulsory mandatory evening seminars on the economic history of fishing in Galicia, there was no shortage of public backing for the beleaguered manager.

Upon scoring the first goal, the Brazilian forward slapped hands with his manager on the touchline, while both Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham offering supportive post-match references to the media. "The manager’s been great," tooted the England star, in an act of unedifying sycophancy he could try repeating next time he’s on England duty. "I myself got a great relationship with him, a lot of the guys do as well. After the first run of games when we had some draws, we held great conversations internally. In the last couple of games, we have simply not been good enough once more. Yet no one is giving up, no one is complaining, moaning, believing the season is over."

Although it might be unusual for the UK press to distort Bellingham's words to fit a narrative, one might suggest that by saying that “a lot” of his teammates get on with the coach, the midfielder was subtly hinting that a significant number do not. Vinícius Júnior has evidently had disagreements with his boss and the winger is said to have informed the club's hierarchy he will not ink a new deal while Alonso remains in charge. One wonders how Vinícius thought about the next day's Spanish press, which gave Alonso a free pass for this defeat and instead placed responsibility firmly on Viní’s wasteful feet.

STATEMENT OF THE DAY

"Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border. This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive ethos the tournament is meant to embody and it should be scrapped immediately" – Ronan Evain, the head of a fan organization, criticizes the Trump regime’s plan requiring fans travelling to the United States for the GWC to disclose information regarding their online disgrace accounts.