Super Cup breathes new life into Xabi Alonso who has clear issues still to solve

The Spanish Super Cup – and what Real Madrid showed in it – has kept Xabi Alonso alive. At Los Blancos, defeats do not strengthen anyone. Never. But given the way the loss in Yeda unfolded against Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, it has allowed the former Bayer Leverkusen coach to remain at the helm of the Madrid team. There was no ultimatum, because as we have been saying for weeks, everything comes down to feeling – and the feeling Real Madrid projected in the final of the season’s first title opens the door to improvement rather than pointing the finger directly at the coach.

Against the Catalan side, the coach altered previous approaches, with clear improvements along the way. Once again, the players showed they do not want to let the coach fall. They went as far as they could with their current physical condition – we will come back to that – and with the football they have right now. The clearest example was Vinícius, a relentless battering ram against Barcelona’s defense until his body finally gave out. He asked to be substituted. That said it all.

Like every Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso is expected to win. Losing – especially to Barcelona – is never acceptable. But the feeling, once again, has changed. In the previous five games it had been accompanied by victories. This time it comes with defeat, and one that stings. Now comes the time for analysis and for identifying possible improvements with Xabi Alonso still on the bench.

The first improvement, without question, has to be physical. Above all, the club must finally stop the injury bleeding that continues to plague the squad. There is not a single game without an injury. In the semifinal it was Ferland Mendy; in the decisive match, Dean Huijsen finished the game clearly struggling with muscle problems.

The return of Niko Mihić to the medical department will not be the only change within the first team. The coaching staff must find the key to improving the squad’s physical condition, and they will do so with the club’s backing. At Valdebebas, there is still belief that a strong season is possible – but only if the team’s fitness improves.

For now, no one has spoken about turning to the winter transfer market. It is a window the club does not believe in, just as there is little faith in the academy as a solution. Some young players will feature in the Copa del Rey game against Albacete, but there has been no indication that the club sees youth as an answer for this season, beyond Gonzalo, who was already part of the first-team setup.

In the coming days, offers involving different players will begin to arrive, but everything is on hold until next summer. Everyone knows the squad needs strengthening, but January has never been to the liking of Florentino Pérez’s Real Madrid.