‘No one’s downing tools’ – Jude Bellingham insists Real Madrid players behind Xabi Alonso after Champions League loss to Manchester City

But England international Bellingham claimed the squad remain behind Alonso.

“The manager’s been great. I personally have a great relationship with him, a lot of the lads do as well,” he told TNT Sports. “After the first run of games we had some really great conversations internally and we felt we were on the back side of that form.

“In the past couple of games we let ourselves down again. No one’s downing tools, no one’s complaining and moaning thinking the season is over.”

Highlights: O’Reilly, Haaland secure Man City comeback win

Video credit: TNT Sports

Alonso, meanwhile, said: “The performance has been intense. A professional Champions League level game. They have given their best, so from my side, no complaints for anything.

“It is hard to take another defeat but we tried until the end.”

Real Madrid dropped to seventh in the Champions League league phase standings with defeat against City, their second in the competition this season following last month’s loss at Liverpool.

Asked what was not working, Bellingham said: “Probably a number of things. We’re still trying to work it out within the changing room.

“What goes on outside, we know that kind of noise won’t be helpful, so it’s about us trying to figure it out inside the dressing room.

“One of the things that’s obvious is how we’re managing games. Certain games we have to suffer and it feels like we always concede. It puts us on the back foot and makes us maybe play in a way we don’t want to.

“As a player inside the changing room, seeing what we’ve got in there, working with the coach every day, we have everything we need to turn it around.

“It’s just about maybe a bit of luck, maybe something we need to discuss internally. But I’ve got full faith that this season isn’t over just because we’ve been on a bad run of form.

“Obviously as players it kills us and we’re going to try everything to turn it around.”

Real Madrid face mid-table Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, likely a must-win game for under-fire Alonso.

After the defeat to City, European football expert Julien Laurens told TNT Sports: “I think there’s a big chance (it will cost Alonso his job). They go to Alaves at the weekend, which should be a straightforward game, but you don’t know.

“Even in the Champions League, they go to Monaco and play Benfica, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, on the last day. They will finish top 24; there is no doubt.

“But they were five points clear of Barcelona (in La Liga) three weeks ago; they’re four points behind now. It’s just not going well. And tonight, it’s not going well for him either. He’s going to be under more pressure, more scrutiny, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not there by the weekend.”