Alonso took over as coach of Real Madrid this summer, but he is under great pressure at the Spanish club.

Speculation has been raised about the possibility of Alonso’s dismissal if Real Madrid loses its match against its guest, Manchester City, scheduled for this Wednesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the sixth round of the Champions League stage.

Guardiola, who previously coached Alonso at Bayern Munich, said: “I definitely feel sympathy because we were together for a year and a half or two years.”

He added: “It was a wonderful experience to be with him, not only as a coach, but we shared other things, and as families as well.”

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach continued in statements reported by the British news agency PA Media: “But Barcelona and Real Madrid are the most difficult competitors, the two most difficult clubs to coach, and they are difficult in terms of pressure and the surrounding environment.”

He added: “Regarding what I achieved last season (he did not win any title with Manchester City), if I had been a coach for Real Madrid and achieved the same results, I would have been fired 6 months before the end of the season. It (Real Madrid) is a difficult place.”

He continued: “But he (Alonso) knows that. He was here (he was a Real Madrid player) and knows this fact. It is a matter of winning matches.”

Real Madrid made a promising start under Alonso’s leadership, but began to falter since the loss to Liverpool last month, amid rumors of disagreements in the dressing room increasing.

Real Madrid has won only two matches out of 6 since its loss to Liverpool, including its loss last Sunday at home against Celta Vigo 0-2.

Source: Agencies