Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso faced the media ahead of his team’s return to action against Getafe with his usual pre-game press conference. One hot topic was the Villarreal vs Barcelona game expected to be played in Miami, with players staging protests this weekend. “My opinion is the same as when you asked me two months ago; we are against the match; we believe it distorts the competition,” Alonso said. “The protests are positive because they reflect the feelings of many clubs. There is unanimity
among all the clubs that we believe this can happen.”
Xabi Alonso on returning after the international break
“Everyone who went away with the national team, except Dean, has returned safely. They were able to train both today and yesterday. Visiting Getafe is always demanding. They have a manager who knows how to get the most out of his team.”
Xabi Alonso on player protests against the game in Miami
“I just answered that. Our position is the same. The decisions that need to be made to prevent it from happening are not up to us. Our opinion is the same.”
Xabi Alonso on punctuality
“I believe that respect and discipline are essential in any dressing room. We have our daily routines, which are important because we have a very demanding schedule. We have to respect them. The players understand this and, of course, we have our internal rules.”
Xabi Alonso on Raúl Asencio
“Raúl has a great ability to anticipate, a lot of power in duels. The more effective he is and the better he knows how to use them, the more he will take advantage of that quality. It’s true that mistakes were made at the Club World Cup, but now he’s performing at a very positive level, with the flexibility to play even in a back three. He’s very competitive, he has the La Fábrica gene, you can see that in Raúl. He has room for improvement, but the bad feeling from the World Cup is behind him. He’s a very reliable player who is available at any time.”
Xabi Alonso on Ferland Mendy
“Ferland’s return is very good news. He needs time training with the team and training. Adding minutes. And, above all, he mustn’t relapse. It’s very important for him. He’ll probably need a few weeks to get there. It opens up another possibility for us. Fran can play as a wing-back or full-back, Álvaro can play as a full-back or centre-back, Ferland is very competitive… It opens up another option for us. We’ve done it in the past and we’ll certainly do it again in the future. When, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Xabi Alonso on a difficult run of fixtures
“For me, the next one is always the most difficult when I pass a block. This one has a few less matches because we have a clean week, but we want to continue moving forward, being consistent in all competitions. Thinking about what’s next, which is Getafe. We’re not looking any further ahead. We’re aware of what’s coming, obviously, but what we’ve talked about internally is tomorrow’s opponent, who will be very demanding. So far, we’ve been very consistent and reliable, but we can’t let our guard down.”
Xabi Alonso on Dani Ceballos
“I knew Dani very well. What he’s giving us is what I knew he would give. He has to be cautious, but I was very clear about what he could offer us with his different characteristics. He won’t be there tomorrow.”
Xabi Alonso on Vinícius as a false nine for Brazil
“I watched Brazil’s match. Militão’s too, let’s not forget. We’ve been able to use Vini in that position, although with us he’s played more as a winger. In Brazil, they rotate there, which worked very well against Korea. It’s a possibility we may have in the future.”
Xabi Alonso on Mbappé’s discomfort
“His ankle is fine, he’s in the squad and could start, yes.”
Xabi Alonso on Vicente del Bosque’s comments about his transparency
“Last time you also asked me for my opinion. I’m very fond of Vicente, he’s been in this job for many more years than I have and he knows perfectly well what it means to be a coach at Madrid. I’m just starting out and I hope I can continue to improve. I listen very carefully to everything Vicente says.”
Xabi Alonso on loans for Endrick and Gonzalo
“Right now, it’s not on my mind, nor has it happened. They are both ready to play in a position with very good competition. Both for them and for what we have. Right now, that’s not on my mind.”
Xabi Alonso on getting Bellingham back to his best
“Jude has been training and preparing for longer since his shoulder operation. He’s better. We need the best Jude. He’s eager to play well and help his teammates play well. We need him and it’s been a while since his injury, now he’s better prepared.”
