With El Clasico approaching this weekend, Spanish journalist Anton Meana of Cadena SER on the El Larguero radio program weighed in on the significance of the match for Real Madrid’s manager Xabi Alonso.
“The one who has the most at stake in this match is Xabi Alonso. I think he has a lot at stake because he knows that managing Real Madrid has this thing, that they look at you because of PSG’s match in the Club World Cup, because of the match at the Metropolitano and because of this match.”
Meana’s comments underline the growing scrutiny surrounding Alonso as he prepares for his first Clásico in charge of Real Madrid and the importance of “big” matches. With two poor results thus far: the loss to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano and the defeat to PSG in the Club World Cup — the pressure is mounting for Alonso to deliver a statement win, even this early in his tenure.
This weekend’s clash at the Santiago Bernabeu could serve as a defining early test for Alonso’s tenure, both in terms of credibility within the dressing room and perception among the Madrid faithful.
