Guardiola Goes Off on Xabi Alonso After PSG Mauling: “He’s Still a Baby Coach”
“Xabi is still a baby coach. I warned him about that player, but he didn’t listen. Now look at the outcome.”
– Pep Guardiola delivers a blistering verdict following Real Madrid’s shocking collapse against PSG in the Club World Cup semifinal.
What was supposed to be a titanic clash between two European powerhouses turned into a disasterclass for Real Madrid — and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola did not hold back in his brutal post-match assessment of the man in charge: Xabi Alonso.
In a press conference that stunned journalists and fans alike, Guardiola dismissed Alonso’s coaching credentials with one scathing sentence:
“Xabi is a baby coach after what he did today against PSG.”
According to multiple insiders, Guardiola had warned Alonso specifically about a certain PSG player ahead of the tie. Though he didn’t name names, all fingers point toward Lucas Beraldo, the young Brazilian midfield engine who orchestrated chaos at the heart of Madrid’s defense and was directly involved in all four goals.
“I gave him a heads-up about Beraldo. He ignored it. Now he’s paying the price,” Guardiola added with visible frustration.
Madrid Fans Erupt: “Pep Said What We Were All Thinking!”
As Guardiola’s comments spread like wildfire across social media, a wave of Real Madrid fans agreed — and even applauded — the honesty from the City boss.
One major fan account on X (formerly Twitter) posted:
“Pep just said what every Madridista has been screaming into the void. Xabi and that player are to blame. This defeat is on them.”
The anger didn’t stop there. Supporters flooded timelines with criticism of Xabi’s tactics, accusing him of arrogance for sticking with underperforming players and ignoring the obvious threats posed by Luis Enrique’s revamped PSG. In particular, his midfield setup and defensive choices were seen as naïve — a risky gamble that backfired spectacularly.
Mounting Pressure on Xabi Alonso: From Rising Star to Question Mark?
Xabi Alonso’s honeymoon period as Real Madrid manager may be over. His appointment was met with sky-high expectations — a beloved former player, fresh off impressive managerial success in Germany, now entrusted with leading Los Blancos into a new era.
But after the humiliation in the Club World Cup semifinal — a tournament Madrid expected to dominate — many are now questioning if he’s truly ready for the elite stage.
Madrid’s leading sports paper Marca didn’t hold back either, with a front-page headline that read:
“A Baby Coach’s Mistake — Xabi’s Arrogance Costs Madrid Everything.”
AS reported that several top-level figures inside the Real Madrid boardroom are furious with the way the team was outplayed and are demanding immediate changes.
What Now for Real Madrid?
Florentino Pérez is expected to make a public statement, with insiders suggesting that major shake-ups — both in the squad and possibly the coaching staff — are being considered.
While PSG now gear up for a star-studded final against Manchester City, Real Madrid are left to fight for third place against Al Hilal — a jarring reality for a club of their stature.
Guardiola, ever the tactician, ended his press conference with a cutting remark:
“At this level, there’s no room for pride or ego. You listen, you adapt — or you suffer. Tonight, Madrid suffered. Maybe this is the lesson Xabi needed.”