
Managing the Premier League's Big Six is tough, and so is leading La Liga's top two, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Xavi Alonso started coaching Real Madrid this season but was dismissed after only seven months. Media data reveals that Alonso and Barcelona's coach Flick shared the same opening record of 24 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses in their initial 34 matches, both boasting win rates above 70%. However, their fates diverged completely: Alonso left in disappointment, while Flick won four trophies and earned the admiration of Barcelona’s club and fans.
In my opinion, the Barcelona team under Flick and the Real Madrid squad under Alonso are completely different setups. Real Madrid started with a 300 million euro investment, whereas Barcelona is in a rebuilding phase. Although their first 34 matches show similar results, Flick’s team defeated Real Madrid twice and achieved consecutive 4-goal wins against Real Madrid and Bayern, which adds extra credit. These different team contexts have shaped the contrasting destinies of the two coaches. Perhaps Alonso is not yet ready to manage a top club in one of the big five leagues. What do you think about this?