Guardiola backs Alonso to get out of Real Madrid mire

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Updated / Tuesday, 9 Dec 2025 21:13 'For what I did last season, I'd have been sacked six months before end of the season' Pep Guardiola has backed Xabi Alonso to turn his situation around at Real Madrid despite admitting his record at Manchester City last season would have got him the sack in the Spanish capital. There have even been suggestions the former Liverpool midfielder could be fired if Real lose to Guardiola's Manchester City in their Champions League clash in the Spanish capital on Wednesday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

City manager Guardiola, who coached Alonso at Bayern Munich, said: "Of course I have sympathy because we were together one year and a half, two years. Xabi Alonso is coming under pressure "I know they have a lot of absences and I know what happens when you're building something.

He said: "We are in the group stage so it's completely different, but all the knockout games have been tight. "We have important players right now for who it's the first time in the Bernabeu.