Alonso Faces Dressing-Room Tensions; Carvajal Out

Xabi Alonso has acknowledged dressing-room tensions after Vinicius Jr.'s angry reaction to being substituted in Real Madrid's 2-1 El Clásico win, an incident that ended with an apology from Vinicius. Despite the victory keeping Madrid top of LaLiga, multiple reports say Alonso's stricter, more hands‑on 'Pep‑like' regime — with new rules on punctuality, intensity and effort — has unsettled several senior players used to Carlo Ancelotti’s looser style. Alonso defended his methods and tactical choices, including starting Eduardo Camavinga, saying he aims to be genuine, exercise emotional intelligence and prioritise the team. Insiders say some players resent losing on-field freedom, the coach has clamped down on leaks, and pundits such as Steve Nicol have urged Alonso to consider benching Vinicius to preserve authority. The club also faces an off-field setback: captain Dani Carvajal has been ruled out until 2025 after knee surgery, reducing defensive options.