Steven Gerrard did not hold back when analyzing Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in their Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabéu. The former Liverpool captain delivered sharp criticism toward two Los Blancos players, pinpointing their mistakes as major factors in Madrid’s collapse against the reigning Premier League champions.
The defeat was more than just a setback; it worsened the pressure on head coach Xabi Alonso, who is already under intense scrutiny following a series of disappointing results both domestically and in Europe. Manchester City’s comeback victory not only strengthened their position in the top four of the Champions League Phase standings but also pushed Madrid dangerously close to losing control of their qualification hopes.
Madrid Start Brightly Before Total Momentum Shift
The match initially appeared promising for the home side. Rodrygo broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a composed finish, sending the Bernabéu into celebration. But Real Madrid’s lead evaporated quickly and dramatically.
City equalized from a chaotic corner situation. After Madrid failed to clear their lines properly, Nico O’Reilly stabbed the ball home from close range—capitalizing on poor defensive organization. Minutes later, disaster struck again as Erling Haaland won and converted a penalty after being brought down by Antonio Rüdiger inside the box.
From that moment, momentum completely shifted toward Manchester City.
Madrid’s Defensive Fragility Exposed
Real Madrid pushed desperately for an equalizer throughout the second half, but City’s compact defensive structure and maturity in managing the game ensured the three points would return to Manchester. Pep Guardiola’s team climbed to fourth in the standings, securing a strong foothold toward automatic qualification for the knockout round.
On the other hand, Madrid suffered their second European defeat of the season, slipping to eighth place—a precarious position that amplifies the speculation surrounding Xabi Alonso’s future. Spanish media have already reported that another negative result could put Alonso’s job at serious risk.
In his post-match analysis on TNT Sports, Steven Gerrard highlighted exactly where Madrid fell apart.
Gerrard Calls Out Two Madrid Players for “Extremely Poor” Decisions
Gerrard’s sharpest criticism was directed at full-back Álvaro Carreras and centre-back Antonio Rüdiger. The Liverpool legend broke down both costly moments that turned the match around in City’s favor.
- Álvaro Carreras – “Ball-watching and completely unaware”
Gerrard was furious about Carreras’ positioning during City’s equalizer.
“This is extremely poor from Real Madrid as a unit,” Gerrard explained as he dissected the footage.
“Jude Bellingham loses the initial duel, Courtois reacts weakly, but Carreras… he simply cannot allow that much space inside the box.”
He continued:
“Carreras is looking around the stadium—I don’t know what for. The player he’s marking has two or three yards of space to tap in the rebound. You cannot switch off like that in a Champions League match. He is completely ball-watching.”
Gerrard’s tone reflected disbelief, emphasizing how such a lapse is unacceptable at this level.
- Antonio Rüdiger – “A stupid decision inside the penalty area”
The second moment Gerrard slammed was the penalty incident involving Rüdiger.
Pundit Joleon Lescott also weighed in, stating he wasn’t surprised Rüdiger conceded the penalty because of his physical style of defending.
Gerrard then doubled down:
“It’s a stupid decision from Rüdiger. Xabi Alonso now has a major problem because City are leading without even playing their best football.”
“You cannot make that kind of challenge in the penalty area—especially with VAR. There is no escaping it. It’s a clear penalty.”
Gerrard added that Madrid’s defensive collapse in the final 10 minutes of the first half was alarming.
Gerrard: “I expected more from Real Madrid”
While Gerrard praised Manchester City’s composure, he expressed disappointment in Madrid’s overall performance.
“I expected much more from Real Madrid. This is not the performance of a team fighting for its coach,” Gerrard said.
He reiterated that Manchester City fully deserved the win—not because they were extraordinary, but because Madrid collapsed at crucial moments:
“City deserved the three points, but Madrid lost the game in those key moments—poor defending on the first goal, unnecessary contact from Rüdiger on the second. You cannot gift City goals like that.”
Pressure Mounts on Xabi Alonso Amid Locker Room Rumors
Adding to the drama, several reports in Spain claim the Madrid dressing room is divided, further complicating Alonso’s position. The loss to City, following a domestic defeat to Celta Vigo, marks Madrid’s second straight home loss—a rare occurrence at the Bernabéu.
The next Champions League matches will likely decide not only Madrid’s fate in the competition, but also whether Alonso keeps his job.
ALSO READ :
