Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso spoke to the media ahead of their trip to face Alaves on Sunday. He was asked about his future and the noise surrounding it, to which he said: “The most important thing for me is the team and the club. Tomorrow is important for the match, and we want to change the dynamic. That’s what we play tomorrow.”
Alonso on the match on Sunday
“Despite the casualties, we have enough strengths and tomorrow eleven Madrid players will go out on the field to give everything. I am sure there will be commitment
and desire. It’s an important game.”
Alonso on whether a loss can be celebrated
“No, but we did do a lot of things. There are positive things. It’s already happened, but we have positive things that we’re going to need in the future. And the very near future is tomorrow.”
Alonso on the bad streak
“I’ve been in football for many years. I’m not surprised by anything that can happen. They are normal things, things that have happened, things that will happen in the future. They must be faced with the responsibility of the position and what we represent. From there, it is time to work to reverse the situation. It’s not something that surprises me too much.”
Alonso on coach sackings so far
“I’ve been training for many years. In Spanish football, surely in the past, there have been many cessations at this point. I think that, in what we have seen of the season, two coaches in the league have been sacked. My impression is that football is demanding, and surely in other times there have been more cessations. There, I leave the work for you; I have a lot now, and I will not take any more.”
Alonso on Kylian Mbappé
“We got Kylian back. He is fine to play, and tomorrow we’ll see. It’s good news.”
Alonso on the rest of the casualties
“There are no other casualties after the City game, but we have three sanctioned, and it’s part of the game. We complete the squad with Castilla players; whenever they go up, they give quality to training, and tomorrow, we go with those who are well and with those who help us.”
Alonso on his relationship with the team
“I’ve always felt that we’ve had a good relationship and we always fight for the common goal. The other day we didn’t win, but there was no reproach. Looking ahead to tomorrow we need that common goal that we’re here for.”
Alonso on leaders in this squad
“We’re in the dressing room every day. We live in good and not so good times. We also think that we can grow if we go through these difficult moments and reverse that dynamic. Maybe in the future we will look back and say what we had, but here we are. We have people with experience.”
