Real Madrid: The appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa shocks the fans

Alonso’s sacking as Real Madrid coach has left fans divided and unsure.

In Madrid on Tuesday, it was difficult to find a supporter who was entirely positive about the changes.

Fan Mario Gonzalez admitted that although “the team was not performing as well as expected” and the booing reflected understandable frustration, he questioned whether the decision was hasty: “A hasty decision? Maybe. Is this the best thing for Real Madrid? We’ll see in the coming months.”

Juan Antonio Lillo pointed to Alonso’s struggle in implementing his ideas, saying, “He tried to change too many things at once, and this usually conflicts with the complacency of some players,” while pointing to the club’s historical impatience: “Real Madrid does not understand waiting.”

The tone of reports in the Madrid media about Alonso’s tenure and dismissal has been a mixture of criticism, caution and somewhat sympathetic, reflecting frustration with the results and recognition of his status as a club legend.

One report said the dressing room was divided, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham among those who did not believe in Alonso.

Bellingham publicly shut down those reports on social media on Tuesday, calling the authors clowns and using an expletive to describe his opinion of them.

Billingham called it “harmful misinformation.”

At a recent press conference, he encouraged his supporters not to believe everything they read, stressing that Alonso has his full support.

But this kind of reporting left its mark on some of the fans we spoke to.

Alfredo criticized the club and said that Alonso “succumbed to these pampered players and did not know how to impose his ideas.”

Ignacio called the timing premature and warned of Arbeloa: “I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think he’s ready and he’s taking over at a very bad time for a rookie. If Xavi isn’t able to impose himself in the dressing room, I doubt Arbeloa, who has less experience as a coach and less legacy as a player, will be able to.”