The night from Sunday to Monday was a long one at the Bernabeu. After the defeat against Celta, which leaves Real Madrid four points behind Barcelona when just over a month ago the white team's lead was five points, the club's directors met at the Bernabeu to analyse what happened in the fiasco against the Galicians and, in reality, in a season that has inexplicably gone wrong for the white team in the last five weeks.

Florentino Perez and his advisors met in a crisis cabinet that lasted until late at night. On the table were several key points, such as the lack of football from the team, which was more evident than ever against a Celta side that dominated Madrid at the Bernabeu, not to mention the plague of injuries affecting the defence in particular - Eder Militao's serious injury is the latest in a chapter of misfortune that seems to have no end - and, of course, the refereeing performance, which cost the team three red cards that leave the defence especially depleted for the next LaLiga match.

Quintero Gonzalez's performance added to the idea, which has long been held by the club's directors, that refereeing does not exactly favour Madrid's interests in domestic competition matches.

In any case, the most important part of the meeting was devoted to the team's complex sporting situation, with only three wins in the last seven games, and focused on Xabi Alonso and his relationship with an important part of the dressing room. The lack of harmony between the Basque coach and some key players in the team, which became evident in situations such as Vinicius' substitution in the Clasico, is a major concern for the club, which has set Wednesday's match against City as the deadline for a reaction from the squad and the coach. The result of that match and the image projected by the team will depend on many things, starting with the future of Xabi Alonso, for whom names of possible successors are already being mentioned, with Zinedine Zidane as the first option in most of the betting. Another, more complicated option would be Jurgen Klopp, who is currently out of work after a long and successful spell at Liverpool.

The crisis, in all its forms, has become apparent at the club, which has seen its solid situation in La Liga overturned in favor of a Barcelona side that, despite losing in the Clasico and enjoying a more uncomfortable situation in the Champions League, now seems to be far ahead of Madrid in terms of play and sensations. Wednesday's match against a prestigious European opponent could mark a turning point for Los Blancos, especially for Xabi Alonso. It is well known that the coach is the weakest link in times of crisis, although in the analysis carried out by the club's hierarchy, important players in the squad do not come out unscathed, which could lead to a very hot summer in terms of reconfiguring the team.