Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso spoke to the media after their 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo on Sunday night. He was asked about the result, to which he said: “We are all angry, it was not the match we wanted,
nor the result. From the beginning, that injury to Militao hurt us, we had a hard time recomposing ourselves. We’ve adjusted things. The match we wanted has not come out; we must turn the page as soon as possible. It’s only three points, there’s a lot of league left. On Wednesday, we have the Champions League to react and remove this bad taste from our mouths.”
Alonso on Real Madrid’s intensity
“It was not what we expected, the game we raised to play with good pace, pressing against a good opponent, and things were missing. Mili’s injury upset our plans. It’s bad news, we suffer from injuries. It’s another one that’s added. It has been difficult for us to react; we almost react when we are playing with 10 men. It’s three points, they hurt, we’re angry, and now we have to show another face on Wednesday. We all take the blame, in the good times and in the not-so-good times. We have to take it with responsibility. We should not look very long-term. The situation is tight from injuries. Things have to be changed, we’ll see.”
Alonso on trying to get through this phase
“All united, knowing that this is football, of course. We have to look forward. The demand we know what it is, the defeats hurt a lot, but you have to look forward. It is the responsibility of all of this, together we must assume to do things well. We know that the points that go are important, but not decisive.”
Alonso on whether his job is on the line vs Manchester City
“We played three points in the Champions League, and we are in a good situation. We want to give a good standard and play better than we have today. We must show a completely different game.”
Alonso on the referee
“We have been unhinged by the referee’s decision. He didn’t take time loss into account; they cut our pace, and he’s been very permissive. The card to Carreras I don’t know, very debatable. I didn’t like it, that’s gotten us out of control. He got us a little bit out of the game in those phases. I didn’t like the arbitration.”
Alonso on patience
“We thought about the following on Wednesday. The moment now is clear that it hurts, but we must look forward, with the demand that this club represents. With the necessary pride. It is the short-term goal.”
Alonso on Franco Mastantuono and Dani Ceballos on the bench
“Franco is regaining his form, after the pubalgia, he must train more. It’s getting better, it’s available. They are technical decisions, for now.”
Alonso on breaking low blocks
“We have to look for them, they are situations that we are going to face many times. We have to prepare for it and generate more opportunities. When we were playing with ten, we made more chances. It’s a matter of looking and working. The team wants to compete, wants to build foundations. We’re on the way.”
Alonso on the rest of the season
“We play three points in each game. It will be an important and beautiful match. There is a lot of work that we do in Valdebebas, and that is what we must focus on. It’s three points, they hurt, of course, we share the pain with people. We wanted to be higher, but there is a long way to go. This is football, and it always is like that.”
