Xabi Alonso’s pivotal week in the Real Madrid hot seat

Managerial life in the Spanish capital can be challenging when the results dry up, as Alonso is discovering. Despite a promising beginning, a form slump has led to the 44-year-old dealing with boardroom drama, superstar egos and fickle fan sentiment. Given club president Florentino Perez’s impatience with managers, Alonso’s future hinges on how his side starts the new year