Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso spoke to the media after their win over Sevilla in their final game of the year. He was asked about the level this team is at right now, to which he said: “We know where we are right now. We’re self-critical and know we need to play better; this isn’t our level, and we can do better. The priority was to win. Some things haven’t gone as planned. Considering where we came from and these victories… now we need to follow that up with improvement.”
Alonso on the game
“We’re going to take some
time to analyze and reflect. We had to win. It was a tough situation. We know we can do better. And we want to start the year off on a better note.”
Alonso on the Bernabeu booing Vinicius Jr
“The fans are free to express their opinions, but it was a tough match. I value the team’s current form, and with these absences, we’ll use this time to rest and come back strong.”
Alonso on whether the problem has been identified
“When we don’t have the ball, we have to change the rhythm, be more direct… after these weeks we’ve had guys pushing themselves to the limit, Valverde, Asencio, Camavinga… I’m not satisfied with today’s level because we’ll improve in the future when we recover.”
Alonso on Kylian Mbappé’s goalscoring record
“He always wants to make an impact, which is great for his teammates. It’s a historic achievement; I congratulate him on it and wish him the best for 2026.”
Alonso on injuries
“There are many factors. The heavy workload means a higher risk of injury. It happened with Militao recently, for example. That penalizes us a lot. We have to be creative and use players in positions they aren’t used to. I appreciate that.”
Alonso on what he asks from 2026
“I’m not one to ask for things, I’m prepared for whatever comes.”
