Xabi Alonso never likes to make a big deal out of players showing frustration.
Having been a player himself, Alonso was often substituted at various points in matches by his coaches. Because of that experience, he understands the feelings of players like Vinícius Júnior very well. That’s why the Real Madrid coach doesn’t see it as a major issue when the Brazilian star or anyone else expresses frustration.
Since taking over at Real Madrid, the former World Cup-winning midfielder from Spain hasn’t given Vinícius a full 90 minutes in any match. His visible frustration over this has become a headline topic in the Spanish media, but Alonso isn’t paying any attention to it.
After Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, Alonso took charge at the Santiago Bernabéu. Under his coaching, Real Madrid have played 12 matches so far. Vinícius has come off the bench twice, and in the other 10 games he has been substituted during the second half.
Vinícius remains one of the key figures in Real Madrid’s attack. The 25-year-old Brazilian forward scored in both the 2022 and 2024 Champions League finals, helping the team win the title. But recently, his status in the squad appears to have shifted.
That became clear in Saturday’s La Liga match against Espanyol. Operating from the left wing, Vinícius regularly threatened the opposition and contributed to Kylian Mbappé’s goal. One of his own shots hit the post. Despite one of his best performances of the season, he still didn’t complete the full 90 minutes. While leaving the pitch, cameras caught him visibly annoyed at his coach.
Statistically, Vinícius ranks second for goal involvement but only tenth for minutes played. Amid ongoing debates over whether he’s being managed correctly, Alonso has reiterated his stance on rotating players.
“I was a player myself, and when I got taken off, I didn’t like it either. So I don’t think it’s a big deal for players to express frustration.”
“Given what Vinícius is doing (his performances), I’m happy. The season has just started, and we’re going to need everyone. I’m happy, but we can still improve in our attacking play against opposing defenses.”
This supposed ‘tension’ hasn’t affected Real Madrid’s performance. They sit top of La Liga with 15 points from five matches, two points ahead of reigning champions Barcelona.
