UEFA Champions League | League Phase Matchday 6 | Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Pep Guardiola has distanced himself from the mounting speculation surrounding Xabi Alonso’s future at Real Madrid, while backing his former player to survive a pivotal Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night.
The Manchester City manager was repeatedly pressed about Alonso’s job security during his pre-match press conference, with Spanish media reports suggesting the Real Madrid boss could be sacked if Los Blancos fail to beat City.
Guardiola Shows Sympathy, Declines to Speculate
Guardiola, who coached Alonso during their time together at Bayern Munich from 2014 to 2016, expressed empathy but refused to be drawn on his former colleague’s position.
“I wish Xabi all the best, but his future is an answer I don’t know,” Guardiola said. “You all know the situation better than I do. I’m far removed from it. I haven’t spoken with Florentino, and he hasn’t told me that tomorrow will be Xabi’s last match.”
The City boss acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with managing at the Bernabéu. “Managing Real Madrid is the most difficult job in football,” he stated. “If I performed the way I did last season as a Real Madrid manager, I would’ve been sacked in six months.”
When asked for advice he might offer Alonso, Guardiola delivered a characteristically sharp response that quickly circulated on social media. “He should pee on his own. I won’t pee for him,” he said with a grin, referencing a Spanish expression about self-reliance. “There’s your headline.”
Alonso Under Pressure After Poor Run
Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti last summer after leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga campaign, has won just two of his last six matches across all competitions.
Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo left Real Madrid four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, just weeks after Los Blancos had topped the table following their Clásico victory in October.
Reports from ESPN indicate that club president Florentino Pérez met with the board after the Celta loss to discuss Alonso’s future, with concerns growing over dressing room dynamics and the performances of key players.
During his own press conference, Alonso insisted he retains the support of his squad. “Yes,” he replied when asked directly if he still had the players behind him.
“This is a team, and we’re all in this together,” Alonso added. “When you’re the Real Madrid coach, you have to be prepared to enjoy these situations calmly and responsibly.”
Tchouaméni Defends Manager
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni came to his manager’s defense, placing responsibility for recent struggles on the players rather than the coaching staff.
“In the Celta game, for sure the coach had a good game plan,” Tchouaméni said. “But in the end, we the players are on the field. If we’re at our level, we have more chance to win these games. If we lost 2-0, there’s a problem for us on the pitch, with the intensity. It isn’t the fault of the coach.”
Teacher vs Student
Wednesday’s fixture marks the first managerial meeting between Guardiola and Alonso, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already storied rivalry. Alonso has frequently credited Guardiola with shaping his coaching philosophy.
“We worked together for two and a half years and it was incredible,” Guardiola reflected. “We shared so much. But Xabi is capable of pulling this off.”
The fixture represents Matchday 6 of the Champions League League Phase, with Real Madrid sitting fifth on 12 points and City ninth with 10. Only the top eight teams advance directly to the Round of 16, making this effectively a knockout match for both sides’ qualification hopes.
Guardiola offered a final assessment of what it takes to win at the Bernabéu. “To beat Real Madrid in this competition, it’s not enough to be better. You have to be much better.”
Match Details
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 8:00 PM GMT / 3:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM CET
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Where to Watch: Paramount+, DAZN (US) | TNT Sports 1, discovery+ (UK) | RTÉ2 (Ireland)
