As we approach the business end of the campaign, Real Madrid are staring at the possibility of finishing the season without any major trophies once again.
While all the noise has been around the players and the attitude in the dressing room, it must be acknowledged that perhaps the biggest moment of the season was the decision to sack Xabi Alonso in January.
The move was not welcomed by the footballing fraternity, with Xabi receiving a lot of support and empathy, especially due to the way he was treated by the players and the club’s hierarchy.
Now, even Real Madrid legend Luis Figo has joined the bandwagon, admitting that Alonso simply did not have enough time to make an impact.
Figo’s verdict on a difficult season
Speaking to MARCA as a member of the Laureus Academy, Figo did not mince his words when assessing Real Madrid’s campaign as a whole.
“The reality is that it is a bad season. For Madrid, if you don’t win, it’s always a negative season. When the titles are missing, it’s because things didn’t work,” he said.
Was Xabi Alonso sacked too early? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
But it was his defence of Xabi Alonso that stood out most. The Portuguese legend was firm in his belief that the former midfielder was never given a fair opportunity to implement his ideas at the club.
“I don’t think he has had time. We have not even had time to make an analysis of the months he has been there. It’s very complicated,” Figo reflected.
The sentiment echoes what many in the football world have felt since Alonso’s dismissal. That the decision was premature and that the club’s patience ran out long before any meaningful conclusions could be drawn about his tenure.
For Real Madrid, the summer cannot come soon enough. A full reset, both in the dugout and across the squad, now appears inevitable, with Jose Mourinho being surprisingly linked with a return to the Bernabeu.
