Xabi Alonso: “We Were Better with Ten Men Than Eleven

Following Real Madrid‘s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu, head coach Xabi Alonso addressed the media with a blend of disappointment and determination. The match, which saw two of his players, Fran García and Álvaro Carreras, sent off, left the team shaken, particularly due to Éder Militão‘s injury. Alonso’s reaction highlighted both the struggles on the pitch and his commitment to moving forward.

In the aftermath of the match, Alonso expressed his concerns about the performance of his squad. “We are all very shaken. Éder’s injury hit us hard; we couldn’t recover from it,” he stated. His assessment of the team’s efforts was blunt: “To be honest, the players’ intensity and effort tonight were disappointing.” The coach’s disappointment was palpable as he reflected on a night that saw Real Madrid unable to find their rhythm.

On the Red Cards and Performance

Alonso’s analysis took a sharp turn when discussing the red cards issued to García and Carreras. “We were better with ten than eleven tonight,” he asserted, suggesting that playing a man down sparked an unexpected fight in his players. “At least with ten men, we started to run and work hard.” The coach’s frustration extended beyond just player performance; he was also vocal about officiating decisions that he felt impacted the match. “The referee drove us crazy,” he remarked, particularly referencing Carreras’s red card as “clearly intentional.” He criticized how the referee allowed Celta to waste time without reprimanding them, which disrupted Madrid’s flow throughout the game.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setback, Alonso remained optimistic about the future. “La Liga is still very long; we must move forward and turn the page,” he declared. He emphasized unity within the squad, stating, “I’m not thinking about my position; I’m focused solely on Wednesday’s match.” This resilience is crucial as Madrid prepares for upcoming challenges in both domestic and European competitions.

Alonso acknowledged the current injury crisis within his team, noting that it has hindered their consistency. “We are going through a phase where injuries are piling up, and we lack continuity,” he explained. The coach is keen on maintaining competitiveness despite these hurdles. He also provided an update on Mastantuono, who is still recovering from pubalgia and needs more training before returning to action.

As Real Madrid navigates through this challenging period, Alonso’s focus remains steadfast on improving performance and regaining form. “For me, it’s just three points,” he concluded. “We share this feeling with our supporters because we wanted to be higher in the standings than we are now, but we have another match to play. That’s football.” With key fixtures ahead, all eyes will be on how Madrid bounces back from this latest disappointment.