Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has surprised many with an unexpected piece of advice for Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso ahead of their Champions League showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night. During his press conference, Guardiola faced numerous questions about Alonso’s future rather than the game itself, as pressure continues to grow around the Basque coach.
Reports in Spain suggest that Alonso’s position could be at risk if the result goes against Real Madrid. When asked if he had any friendly advice for his former player, Guardiola responded with a light-hearted but unusual comment.
“To pee with his own one. To pee with his own one. He doesn’t pee cologne so he’ll probably do fine,” Guardiola joked, referencing a past criticism aimed at him during his Barcelona days. The expression was used by critics who claimed Guardiola acted as if everything he did was perfect.
Did Guardiola indirectly point out Real Madrid’s main problem?
One of the external criticisms of Alonso’s tenure has been his apparent difficulty in gaining full control of the dressing room. Some believe that Real Madrid’s star players hold too much influence, limiting the coach’s authority.
Guardiola was asked directly about this potential imbalance of power.
“I’m not in Real Madrid’s dressing room, so I don’t know the situation. But the hierarchy is power,” he said.
“If the hierarchy wants to give power to the manager, he has the power. If they want to give it to the players, then the players have the power.”
He also acknowledged the difficult circumstances Alonso faces, including the heavy list of injuries and the demands of coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Guardiola: ‘When you don’t win, you know what happens’
Despite the rivalry between their former clubs, Guardiola expressed clear support for Alonso, whom he coached at Bayern Munich.
“Of course. We worked together for two and a half years and it was incredible,” Guardiola noted.
“Barcelona and Real Madrid are the most difficult clubs to manage because of the pressure and the environment. Everything revolves around winning… and when you don’t win, you know what happens.”
He also insisted that Alonso remains capable of turning the situation around, even with the recent negative results.
Are Alonso’s teams similar to Guardiola’s?
Alonso arrived in Madrid with a reputation for being a tactical thinker, leading some to compare his style to Guardiola’s. However, Pep shut down any such comparisons with another humorous remark.
“No, my teams are awesome. My teams can’t be compared to any other team,” he said with a smile.
He added that every coach must adapt to the squad they have and highlighted that Real Madrid were top of La Liga just four days ago, underlining how quickly narratives can change.
Alonso responds to rumours about his future
During his own press conference, Alonso claimed he still feels supported by the club’s hierarchy and maintains unity inside the dressing room. Meanwhile, Aurelien Tchouameni admitted that the players share responsibility for recent poor performances, shifting part of the pressure away from the coach.
As Real Madrid and Manchester City prepare for their crucial clash, the spotlight remains firmly on Alonso. Whether Guardiola’s comments were pure humour or a subtle truth, they have certainly added another layer of intrigue to an already high-pressure encounter.
MadridistasZone view:
As a Real Madrid fan, I find Guardiola’s comments both humorous and revealing. He might have been joking, but there’s truth behind his words about power and responsibility. This match will say a lot about Alonso’s authority and the team’s mentality. Let’s hope Madrid respond on the pitch.