Real Madrid’s schedule has forced the team to play six consecutive games on the road creating a rare situation where the players are not playing at the Santiago Bernabeu for over a month.
So far, they have completed five of their games on the road and the results are anything but favourable. In what almost confirms their poor form away from home, Real Madrid have lost one, drawn three and won just one game in the ongoing spell.
Tonight’s game against Athletic Club marks the sixth and final game on the road, and Xabi Alonso has reportedly looked to make some changes to the team’s routine ahead of the game which has not gone down well with the dressing room.
A travel alteration
As relayed by El Chiringuito (h/t Mundo Deportivo) in a recent report, Alonso changed the team’s travel schedule ahead of the game to see if it can keep the team fresh for the game.
For league games away from home, Los Blancos usually travel on the day of the game and partake in the proceedings scheduled for the evening or night.
The Basque Country being just an hour away by flight makes that schedule perfect for a game at San Mames.
Alonso, however, has changed that and made the team travel the day before so that they sleep in the city of Bilbao and are fresh for the game on Wednesday. While the idea is good in theory, it has reportedly created some internal tension.
Several Real Madrid players believe they are already putting up with a hectic schedule and barely spending any time with their family and close circle.
With the Christmas break coming up and games closer-spaced than ever before, they see the new schedule to deny them valuable time with their family.
It adds another chapter to the building story of tension and unhappiness towards Alonso’s methods within the Real Madrid locker room.
The manager, needless to say, will not read too much into the dressing room’s reaction as long as it can improve the team’s performance on the night and the result.
After all, Barcelona went four points clear with a win over Atletico Madrid last night and Los Blancos must take three points to stay within reach.
