Alonso touts Arbeloa but does not feel Alaves match is make-or-break

Xabi Alonso believes Alvaro Arbeloa could become Real Madrid's head coach in the future, but he does not think Sunday's visit to Alaves is make-or-break for his reign.

Alonso is already under pressure just six months after returning to the Santiago Bernabeu to coach the club he represented 236 times as a player.

Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City dented Madrid's hopes of a top-eight finish in the league stage of the Champions League, while a run of one victory in five outings in LaLiga has left them adrift of Barcelona.

Madrid's six defeats in LaLiga this calendar year are three times as many as they suffered in 2024 (two), with their recent drop-off coming after they won 13 of their previous 14 in the Spanish top flight.

Arbeloa – who is currently in charge of Madrid's B team – has been touted as a possible successor, and Alonso sees potential in the former full-back.

"He could be in the future. He's doing very well," Alonso said when asked if Arbeloa could one day manage the first team. 

"But we have talked more about the players who are joining us tomorrow. We haven't discussed that, at all."

And despite suggestions the Madrid board are considering a change, Alonso is refusing to engage with the idea that anything less than three points at the Estadio de Mendizorroza would force their hand.

Asked if he felt his job was on the line, Alonso said: "I always tell you that for me, the most important thing is the team and the club. 

"Tomorrow, we have a very important match because of the current situation, and we want to change our recent run of results. We have a demanding opponent in front of us. That's what's at stake tomorrow.

"I've been involved in football for quite a few years, and in Spanish football, I'm sure there have been more managerial dismissals at this stage in the past than this season. 

"My impression is that football is demanding, and there have been periods with more managerial sackings by this point.

"I'll leave you with that to think about in the coming days. I already have enough on my plate, and I'm not going to take on any extra work."

Alonso will be boosted by the return of Kylian Mbappe, who is available after missing the City game due to a thigh injury.

"We have Kylian back," Alonso said. "He's fit to play so we'll see and decide tomorrow. It is good news, obviously."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alaves – Lucas Boye

Boye has scored three goals in his last seven appearances in LaLiga, the same number he scored in his previous 31 matches in the competition (all three with Granada).

Real Madrid – Kylian Mbappe

As well as being Madrid's leading scorer this campaign, netting 26 of their 45 goals in all competitions since the end of the Club World Cup, Mbappe has created 47 chances in LaLiga in 2025-26.

That is the most by any Madrid player after their first 16 games of a season in the competition since Mesut Ozil in 2010-11 (55).