Sid Lowe

And I think that the way the players responded last night was partly an awareness.

I think it was partly the fact that, of course, they know that lots of people are looking at them because of the sacking of Xabi Alonso.

And I think one of the reasons why they got whistled by the Bernabeu in that game against Levante, for example, wasn't just because they've been playing badly, but because of the perception that not only have they been playing badly, but they haven't been making an effort.

And also the perception that they were the ones responsible for Alonso being sacked.

And there was a huge amount of frustration at the sense of a lost opportunity.

In the sacking of Alonso.

An opportunity to install a new culture.

To install a structure.

To install an idea and a philosophy of play.

Which couldn't happen because of that pre-existing culture of the players' attitudes.

And I think the players know at the moment that they are more exposed than ever before.

Even though there's a contradiction here.

The manager who has come in has come in precisely because, in part, they think that he is someone who will be able to reach the players and someone who will be able to, if you like, make the players feel comfortable and happy with him in a way that didn't happen with Xabi Alonso.

I think what's happened is that Vinicius has become, if you like, the symbol of it.

I don't think it's just about him, but I think, of course, he becomes a symbol of it.

And at the beginning of this, and, you know, it's curious really to take a step back and look back on where things started to unravel for Xavi Alonso, at least publicly.

Now, and of course, the answer to that is in the Clásico.

So what should have been Xavi Alonso's best night as Real Madrid manager?

Beating Barcelona in the Clásico, winning a really big game when, of course, the previous two big games, they'd been battered by Atletico Madrid and battered by Paris Saint-Germain.

And last season, they'd lost nearly all of the big games as well.