After winning his first Clásico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso spoke to the media after a 2-1 win, with many questions focusing on the importance of the victory. The coach said, “it’s important. You yourselves are saying it. It’s not just the three points. We know that it’s still October and it’s early, that we have to work hard, work a lot. But we wanted good feelings and that’s how it was. We need a lot of what we saw today”.
Xabi Alonso on whether his players were more motivated than usual
“I don’t know if extra, but the team was very motivated. We had been
talking about it beforehand, how important the game was. Not just for the three points, but for what a victory could mean, for deserving it. I’m very happy for the boys. They needed this feeling of winning a big game. The motivation was complete.”
Xabi Alonso on what he asked of his players
“We wanted to field the best-prepared team to compete in an important game. We countered the opponent well. We worked with a lot of conviction. The goal we conceded was our loss, and Koundé’s was a half-chance, but we created a lot. The choice was for today, I saw the boys and the stadium enjoying themselves. There was a very good connection. It was important for the fans to see that their team could compete and win a big game. He enjoyed everything. This project is just beginning, but the connection is essential. And today I felt it.”
Xabi Alonso on Vinícius Junior’s reaction to being taken off
“I don’t want to lose focus on what’s important. These are things we’ll talk about. In what was a great game, Vini also contributed a lot. It’s an important, deserved victory, even if it was a narrow one. We had chances, the penalty… It gives us the feeling of being a competitive team in big games.”
Xabi Alonso on a weight off his shoulders
“No, not a weight. The responsibility of this game. Not just for the three points, but because it will help us grow. There’s a long way to go. Enjoy today. And stay calm.”
Xabi Alonso on reacting to the derby
“We don’t comment on those things, we don’t have that perception from the inside. We’re focused on the short term. We try to prepare for every game as if it were the most important one. We don’t prepare differently for El Clásico or the Getafe game. We know how important it is, but from Tuesday onwards we’re already thinking about the next game. We mustn’t get too carried away. Stay calm. And keep going.”
Xabi Alonso on Dani Carvajal’s gesture to Lamine Yamal
“The tension of the game, the very close result… We had chances to score. I took it with the tension of the moment, but we shouldn’t read too much into it. It’s football. In those years, everything happened. So what? We have another game on Saturday.”
Xabi Alonso on Eduardo Camavinga’s role
“We have to remember that he was with Arda and Jude. Eduardo and they have that flexibility, that dynamism. We needed to dominate to try to get past the first line of pressure. And from there, attack the situations. Eduardo had a great game.”
Xabi Alonso on Jude Bellingham
“He’s had three very good games. We knew before the last break that he needed time, minutes, to get going. He’s done better than we expected after the last break. Jude is all about feeling, communicating, and connecting. That’s why he’s had some very good games.”
Xabi Alonso on the post-match tension
“It was part of the tension of the moment. This kind of banter and scuffles have happened a lot in other Clásicos. It was the result of a lot of things going on. There’s no need to be alarmed by this kind of healthy banter. And I saw it there.”
Xabi Alonso on managing a personality like Vinícius
“There are different personalities within the squad. Now we’ll enjoy it and, when the time comes, we’ll talk about it in the dressing room.”
Xabi Alonso on stopping Lamine Yamal
“We try to defend well as a team. There were no special considerations. We haven’t conceded too many chances.”
