When Bayern Munich brought in Vincent Kompany from Burnley, he was widely considered to be second choice (eighth choice, let’s be honest) for the position. The real first choice was Xabi Alonso, who was playing for Bayer Leverkusen at the time, and he eventually moved to Real Madrid after one season.
Well, not long, but Xavi has just been sacked by Madrid. Communicado officially called it a mutual agreement, but we all know he was fired:
Real Madrid announced that it has decided to end Xabi Alonso’s tenure as first-team coach by mutual agreement between the club and the club.
Xavi Alonso will always be loved and admired by all Madrid fans, as he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values ​​of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.
Our club thanks Xavi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this period and wishes them all the best in this new stage of their lives.
How did Hubby’s trip to Madrid turn into a nightmare? Well, the performance wasn’t amazing, but it was clearly the feud with the star player that led to the team’s undoing. There were reports of friction between Vinicius and other members of the dressing room, with the coach being forced to make concessions to keep them happy. Obviously, the Spanish Super Cup loss to Barcelona was the last straw.
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Now, we are left with just a few questions.
Is Xavi leaving Leverkusen too soon?
perhaps. He did stay on for another year after that record-breaking championship season, but in hindsight the leap from Leverkusen to Real Madrid in one fell swoop may have been too big. Xavi may be a former Real Madrid player, but being a player and being a coach are two different things. He seemed unable to adapt to Madrid’s dressing room culture, clashing with key stars, leading to an overall decline in performance and results.
Is Bayern Munich a better fit?
Almost certainly. Alonso’s preferred style of play is very German, involving high intensity and high pressing. Madrid, meanwhile, played a lazier, freer style under Carlo Ancelotti. Trying to turn one into the other ultimately led to his undoing. The players were not happy and the performance on the pitch reflected that.
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At Bayern he will find a team more receptive to his ideas and he will stay in a league he is familiar with. The Bundesliga is naturally more open and intense than La Liga, which is more suitable for Alonso’s style of play. Perhaps, when Bayern calls again in 2024, Alonso should listen.
Was Vincent Kompany the better choice in the end?
Well, the jury may be still out on this one, but you can’t argue with the results. Kompany led Bayern Munich to perform well this season, with only 1 loss and 2 draws in all competitions. Bayern Munich is currently second in the Bundesliga, second in the Champions League and qualified for the next round of the German Cup.
Most fans are happy with the job Kompany is doing at Bayern Munich. Perhaps if things had been different, we would have lamented that we “missed” Alonso back then. However, this is not the world we live in. Vincent Kompany has made a huge impact at Bayern and the team is playing incredible football.
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What to do next?
For Bayern? there is nothing. We move on.
For Madrid? Maybe they will bring Zidane back and win the Champions League again. This can be annoying, but it’s always possible.
For hubby? Maybe he’ll take some time off while Perez pays his remaining salary. Or Liverpool could sack Arne Slott and recruit their former player to return to the reins. Maybe he will return to the Bundesliga. No matter what happens, his situation is precarious now. The next club he goes to may determine the legacy of his career.