Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso spoke at a press conference on the eve of the match against Juventus.
The match : “Once we pass the group phase, it's all or nothing. We play against a big team and she will demand a lot from us. Football, mind and concentration. We worked for that and everything is ready.”
First big test : “No, it's a different match because it is decisive and it's a big competition. But no, it's just a very important match.”
Mbappé : “He's going well, we're talking about daily and he feels better. We will discuss tomorrow and we will make a decision. His chances of playing? They are big.”
The Canteranos : “Our first idea is to win the matches and then, how to win them, with the resources at our disposal. With the players of the first team, Castilla. The Cantera has always had a very good level and they must have the opportunity. Gonzalo benefits very well, Raúl Asencio also last year launched by Ancelotti. But Real is very demanding.”
The state of Rodrygo : “After the matches, I have all the players on my way. I have the experience of these tournaments and those who start the match are as important as those who enter. Everyone must be prepared. Rodrygo trains well, I find it well.”
🗣️ Xabi Alonso: Mbappé y Vinícius duo? “The important thing is to play as a team, and then the individual quality of Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Brahim will create that difference.”
Chapó 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻pic.twitter.com/APfgsKkBrc
— REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33)
June 30, 2025
Carvajal : “For tomorrow, Carvajal and Militao will be in the group. After two long recovery. It will be good to feel them close, for them as for us. It is important to feel these connections between those who play and those around. They will need minutes before being competitive. Carvajal will be very important this season, Militao too.”
Drons in training : “We try to record the sessions from another point of view. To see the distances as we were talking about … It helps us. I used it in Leverkusen but I don't think we are precursors.”
Possible confrontation against Ramos : “First, we have to go. With Ramos, we have lived a lot of beautiful things, a friendship and see it again with this desire, I rejoice very much. I hope we will see each other during the quarters.”
His first weeks : “It's the third week and I am delighted. Many things reminds me of concentrations as a player but it's another role. Organizing, preparing, deciding … We have to build links and as we spend a lot of time together here, we accelerate this relationship.”
Juve : “It is a team that plays with intensity, which has clear ideas and quality. Top level players. Our reference is not the match against Manchester City.”
Critics against the World Cup : “My feeling is different but we do not think much in the medium or long term, the possible consequences on the players. We do not have time. We have Juve in mind. We give value to this tournament, it will be a big match tomorrow, a PSG-Bayern is looming, Fluminense has eliminated the Inter … The format attracts fans.”
The role of Valverde and his resemblance to Gerrard : “I see him able to play many positions as could do with Steven. But this gift we need, the way we play, he can project himself because he has this acceleration, this ability to unravel the lines easily. His best quality is not to receive the ball, turn around … is playing with the most ground in front of him.”
The role of Trent : “He can play in different systems, in different positions. Against Pachuca, we played at 10 so everything is relative compared to the data. Al Hilal, the second half was better. He is in a process, he adapts to the team and we are happy with him.”
The Vinicius-Mbappé duo : “We want to exploit the collective idea, that everything works as a team. Let us know that doing with and without balloon. Then, there is the individual quality, we have attackers who must make the difference. It is harder for me to show Mbappé how to dribble but I can insist on how to find themselves in this or that situation.”
Mbappé, his expectations : “Due to its impact, its influence is already a leader. We need everyone to be invested in the collective idea, that they benefit with and without a ball. This is the work of Kylian, Ceballos, Tchouaméni … It is a requirement that concerns all players.”
