Real Madrid find themselves in one of the toughest periods of the season, having suffered back-to-back defeats against Celta Vigo and Manchester City. With the team showing inconsistent performances and poor results, pressure is growing rapidly on Xabi Alonso, who is at risk of being dismissed less than a year after taking charge.
In recent weeks, criticism has intensified over Real Madrid’s style, lack of cohesion, and ineffective attacking play. While many point fingers at Alonso, former club icon Karim Benzema believes that the issue lies more with the players than the coach.
“What they lack is connection” – Benzema
Speaking to L’Equipe (via Marca), Benzema offered a detailed analysis of what is going wrong for Los Blancos.
“What they lack is simply a connection between Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham and Rodrygo. Everyone needs to know what to do on the field. Bellingham needs to understand that he is the playmaker, not the scorer. Mbappe is the scorer, not the attacking midfielder. Vinicius is not a defensive midfielder, he is a left winger.”
The former Real Madrid captain stressed that the players must clearly understand their roles.
“As long as everyone knows what to do on the field, that’s it. We’re talking about players who are in the top ten in the world, all on the same team. But it’s difficult because everyone has their own personality and characteristics. Everyone wants to be the best.”
According to Benzema, individual talent means nothing if the collective structure is missing.
“Everyone needs to understand that in their role, they can contribute. But it must be for the good of the team.”
Benzema: “Xabi Alonso can’t solve these problems”
Benzema was also clear that the responsibility for turning things around does not fall solely on Alonso.
“No, the coach can’t do anything. He has names, he is the one who plays the best. After that, it’s a matter of players… If your partner is better than you, you have to accept it.”
He highlighted a common issue when many superstar players are on the same squad.
“The problem is not accepting that the one in front of you scores more goals. That’s why you have problems when you have five or six great players together. Everyone contributes something. And, in the end, the goalscorer always gets a little more attention. But he always needs others. You can’t do it all alone.”
Benzema’s comments add another layer to the debate around Real Madrid’s poor moment. While some blame tactics or coaching decisions, the Frenchman makes it clear that team chemistry, roles, and acceptance among star players are at the heart of the crisis.
MadridistasZone view
For me, Benzema’s analysis is very realistic. This team has incredible talent, but without clarity and chemistry, the results will never match the quality on paper. They need to fix the connection between the key attackers, and fast.