Pep Guardiola weighs in on shock Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso sack rumours

Pep Guardiola weighs in on shock Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso sack rumours

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has backed his Real Madrid counterpart, Xabi Alonso, amid rumours that he could be sacked.

Reports coming out of Spain have suggested that Alonso, 44, could get sacked if Real Madrid don’t beat Man City on Wednesday (December 10).

Real Madrid have hit s rough patch of form as rumours persist that Alonso has fallen out with the club’s superstar dressing room.

Speaking ahead of their meeting, Guardiola address the rumours and backed the man he spent two years coaching at Bayern Munich.

"We were together two years, it was an incredible experience being with him," said Guardiola. "We shared many things.

"Barcelona and Real Madrid are the toughest clubs to be a manager, for the pressure, the environment. Last season, I would have been sacked six months before the end of the season. It’s a difficult place, but he knows it, he’s been here, he knows the reality.

"They have a lot of absences, many players are injured, it happened to us last season. Of course, he is capable."

Guardiola also urged Real Madrid to end the era of ‘player power’ and give Alonso time.

"It depends on where the hierarchy want to give the power," he said. "If the hierarchy wants to give the power to the manager, he will have the power, if they want to give it to the players, they will have the power."