Mourinho's Old Statement Back Viral, Relevant to Xabi Alonso's Sacking?

The dismissal of Xabi Alonso from the Real Madrid coaching position didn't just close a brief chapter at Santiago Bernabeu. This decision appears to have reopened the persistent problem of an uncontrollable dressing room - an old issue that has never truly disappeared at Madrid.

Alonso officially parted ways with Los Blancos after Real Madrid's 2-3 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Monday, January 12, 2026, early morning WIB. 

However, that loss is believed to be merely the final trigger for long-simmering issues behind the scenes.

Several Spanish media outlets reported internal fractures within the dressing room. Some players reportedly clashed with Alonso's approach emphasizing strict discipline - from banning families at training sessions to high physical demands and tactical decisions.

Alonso's tactical decisions provoked an emotional reaction from Vinícius Júnior when substituted.

In this context, old statements by José Mourinho resurfaced widely on social media, seemingly reflecting Madrid's current situation.

Mourinho managed Real Madrid between 2010-2013. The Portuguese coach who delivered LaLiga and Copa del Rey titles once revealed his greatest challenge at Madrid.

"At Madrid, I succeeded in everything except building a united squad," he stated.

Mourinho even disclosed that club president Florentino Perez had asked him to return in 2015 to fix the dressing room.

"In 2015, Florentino Perez asked me to come back. I know he likes me," he added.

But Mourinho declined, believing the necessary changes were no longer possible.

"He called me saying certain 'bad' players needed removing like Casillas, Ramos, Marcelo, and Pepe. I replied it was too late," he concluded.

Now, nearly a decade after those remarks, a similar situation appears to haunt Real Madrid again with different actors.

Xabi Alonso arrived with a reputation for building discipline and structure. But at a club with egos as large as Madrid's, discipline often clashes with status, history, and individual influence.

As Real Madrid searches for stability once more, Mourinho's old words go viral not due to nostalgia but their striking relevance to today's reality.