Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso addressed the press ahead of Sunday’s match with Celta Vigo. He spoke about Kylian Mbappé and drew parallels with Cristiano Ronaldo, while also commenting on team form and squad options.
On Mbappé, Alonso praised his impact at the club and his ambition. “Kylian is on his way to making history at Real Madrid, just like Cristiano did. His ambition, he’s among the chosen few. Working with him day-to-day is great; his desire to influence others, his contagious energy, is something he shares with Cristiano. There, I see similarities. Cristiano is Cristiano, and Kylian is Kylian. They’re both exceptional. We’re very lucky to have Kylian, and we have to make the most of it.”
He said the team aims for a strong showing and steady form after Bilbao. “A good Madrid performance, a complete game. We hope to find ourselves with positive feelings, with continuity from Bilbao. That’s what we’ve talked about and worked on. ”
On selection and options, Alonso noted that choices will be weighed and that Fede Valverde remains a team-first player. “We need to assess what decision we make, but there are other options. Fede always puts the team’s needs first and has always played at a high level there. But there may be other options. We’ll see tomorrow. I remember matches where he’s been outstanding. We know his position, but he’s very generous, he wants to help the team, the badge, and he perfectly embodies the club’s values. Having him is a real privilege.”
Reflecting on the recent match, Alonso called it a solid performance and urged progress. ”It was a good match, I said it. Complete, well rounded. And now we want to build on that. Win more matches and be as high up the table as possible because in April and May we need to be where we need to be.”
He also commented on a player’s strong mood and its effect on the squad. ”He’s in a great place both personally and professionally; he seems so happy. It was a shame he didn’t score in Greece or Bilbao, but when you see him smile, it really energizes the team. It’s crucial to have him in this state of mind. Hopefully, he can cap off these feelings with a goal tomorrow.”
On injuries and returns, Alonso said the club is working to restore players soon and expects short-term improvements. ”We’re working to get many of them back on their feet as soon as possible. There will be good news in the short term. These are phases we have to live with. Our goal is to reverse this as quickly as possible and compete with what we have.”
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