Xabi Alonso has exploded after Raúl Asencio's inexplicable gesture in the Club World Cup against Pachuca. The youth academy player was sent off in the 7th minute for a senseless tackle, leaving his team with one less player for practically the entire match.
Although Madrid won convincingly (3-1), the coach's anger is enormous. His teammates have also made it clear to him.
"This can't happen, this is Real Madrid"
The coach's plan was clear: give minutes to young players with potential, and Asencio was one of those called to seize the opportunity. But instead of responding with soccer, he did so with a childish action that left the team against the ropes at the start of the match. The red card was direct, and left no room for doubt.
According to direct sources from the Madrid locker room, Xabi Alonso didn't wait until the end of the match to speak. At halftime, he delivered a phrase in the locker room that was as harsh as it was clear: "This can't happen... This is Real Madrid. Here, you can't fail like this."
Those who were present say the coach's gaze was intense, and that the message was clearly directed at Asencio. There was no need to say his name.
It wasn't just Xabi. Several teammates showed their disappointment. One of the team's captains, without hiding his frustration, was blunt:
"He left us stranded. We were one man down because of him. That can't happen again."
Asencio apologized to his teammates
Meanwhile, Asencio couldn't hold back his tears. He was the first to apologize in the locker room after the final whistle. But the damage is already done.
In a key match, on a world stage, and when he most needed to show his worth... His sending off has tarnished his image and caused an internal earthquake.
Fortunately, the mistake leaves no lasting effects. Real Madrid continues in the competition with all the odds in its favor.
Delighted with Asencio, but there's a lot of work ahead with him
Xabi Alonso doesn't want cracks in his project. The margin for error is minimal, and the demands are at their highest. He's delighted with Asencio's work in training, but he understands there's a lot of work ahead with him.
Asencio has everything to become the best center-back in the world: speed, positioning, strength... But his mistakes need to be polished to prevent them from harming the team.
Huijsen steals the spotlight
The fans have also spoken. On social media, Asencio became a trending topic after his sending off. Many have defended him because of his youth, but others are demanding accountability: "He's not ready for this level," "You can't fail like this in a competition like this," read the comments.
The truth is that Raúl Asencio has gone from excitement to nightmare in just seven minutes. What could've been his big night with the first team ended up being a stain that could mark his immediate future. In Real Madrid, second chances don't always come.
His mistake was offset by Huijsen's excellent performance, which has stolen the spotlight from Asencio in the heart of the defense.