Real Madrid was left reeling after one of the most embarrassing defeats the club has endured in recent years — a collapse against Liverpool that stunned the football world. Yet the scoreline was only the beginning of the drama.
The real shock came after the match, when manager Xabi Alonso — typically calm, composed, and analytical — lost his temper in the press room and publicly blamed young defender Dean Huijsen for what he called “a disaster that should never have occurred.” In a rare emotional outburst that instantly dominated headlines, Alonso declared: “He didn’t earn the right to wear the Real Madrid shirt today. I regret choosing to start him.” His comments hit the dressing room like a blast, leaving players speechless and plunging the club into turmoil.
Sources close to the team say Alonso’s reaction wasn’t about one isolated error but a chain of poor decisions from Huijsen throughout the match. The promising defender, praised for his talent and composure, delivered what many are calling his worst performance in a Madrid shirt. From the very start, he appeared shaken — losing aerial battles, reacting late to Liverpool’s relentless pressing, and choosing dangerous passes that repeatedly put Madrid in trouble. The turning point came midway through the first half: a sloppy touch near his own penalty area handed Liverpool a chance they clinically converted. Alonso’s expression on the sideline — part disbelief, part growing fury — made his frustration unmistakable.
Inside the dressing room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. Players say the silence was so heavy that no one dared speak. Huijsen reportedly sat apart from the group, head lowered, unable to look up. A few veterans sympathized, recognizing how intense the pressure is for a young player at Real Madrid. Others were seething, feeling his lapses cost the team dearly on a crucial night. When Alonso walked in, tension spiked even further. Instead of a normal debrief, he delivered a fiery speech, highlighting specific mistakes and insisting that “this club cannot carry anyone.” The outburst escalated when he labeled Huijsen’s display as “unacceptable in every sense.”
Spanish media quickly amplified the situation, replaying Huijsen’s errors and debating whether Alonso’s public criticism was justified. Some analysts defended the manager, arguing the defeat demanded hard truths and that Real Madrid’s culture has always required high standards. Others warned that targeting a young player in public could shatter his confidence and create long-term problems.
Behind closed doors, club president Florentino Pérez reportedly met with the coaching staff late into the night. Although he supports Alonso’s authority, Pérez is said to be wary of the lasting impact such a confrontation could have—especially since Huijsen is seen as a long-term investment. The club views him as a potential defensive cornerstone, and a conflict of this magnitude could jeopardize his development. Still, insiders maintain that Pérez will not interfere with Alonso’s disciplinary approach or team selection.
Huijsen himself avoided the media after the match, passing reporters silently with his hood up and headphones on. People close to him say he is devastated — aware of how severe the situation is but stunned by the harshness of the public criticism. He privately admitted it was “the worst match of my life” but felt frustrated that the team’s tactical issues weren’t mentioned. He accepts responsibility but doesn’t believe the defeat was entirely his fault, a view not necessarily shared by all teammates.
The next few training sessions will be critical in determining Huijsen’s short-term fate. Many expect Alonso to leave him out of the lineup for several games — both as a consequence and to shield him from media pressure. Others think Alonso may instead challenge the defender to show resilience and fight his way back. The schedule ahead is demanding, with major league and Champions League matches approaching quickly. Madrid cannot afford internal divisions, yet rebuilding trust after such a public blowup will require careful management.
For Alonso, this marks the first major crisis of his Real Madrid reign. How he navigates it may shape his leadership going forward. Some fans applaud him for refusing to tolerate a drop in standards. Others fear he allowed emotion to overrule control, potentially straining relations with a promising young player who could be important to the club’s future. What’s undeniable is the clarity of his message: wearing Real Madrid’s crest is a privilege that must be earned.
As for Huijsen, the path ahead is uncertain. Will he break under the pressure or emerge stronger? Will Alonso reconcile with him or will this incident reshape Madrid’s defensive hierarchy? The football world now watches Valdebebas closely, waiting to see if this moment becomes a turning point — or the beginning of deeper turbulence. Only time will reveal how deeply this episode has shaken Real Madrid, and whether both coach and player can recover from a night they will struggle to forget.
