Celta Vigo coach urges Real Madrid to have patience with Xabi Alonso – ‘He’s going to do a spectacular job’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid will play the first of their last three league matches of the year as they play hosts to Celta Vigo on Sunday.

It is a must-win game for a Real Madrid team looking to keep up with Barcelona at the top of the league table.

The Spanish giants are coming on the back of a promising 3-0 win over Athletic Club in midweek and will look to continue that moment. But Celta Vigo won’t be an easy nut to crack.

Speaking ahead of the crucial La Liga encounter, Celta Vigo coach Claudio Giraldez talked about Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s form and the fitness of his own players, among other stuff.

What Giraldez said ahead of Real Madrid match

Despite some recent criticism leveled at Real Madrid’s performances, Giraldez was not shy in praising Xabi Alonso. He urged the Madrid hierarchy and fans to trust the process.

“I think he’s one of the best in the world, both as a player and now as a coach. He’s a brain, someone who has very clear ideas. He’s bringing a lot of variety to game situations in attack and defence, looking to find the best version of his team,” he stated.

The Celta Vigo coach went on to laud Alonso’s coaching abilities and backed him for success at Real Madrid in the years to come.

“I think if they have patience with him, he’s going to do a spectacular job at Real Madrid. Personally, I wish him all the best. From the little time I’ve spent with him, he seems like a fantastic person, very polite, very humble,” he said.

“I would like to match the track record of the Real Madrid coach and achieve everything he has already achieved in his coaching career,” he added.

Claudio Giraldez is aware of the Real Madrid challenge. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Giraldez went on to warn that Real Madrid are becoming a complete team, highlighting the tactical nuances that make them a threat.

“The natural inclination of Real Madrid, given the players they have, is to break games open with their speed. It’s intelligent of them to do so at many points.

“They’re also managing possession effectively, varying the position of their full-backs to create attacking opportunities with three players,” he said.

Knowing the challenge that awaits, Giraldez warned his players that they must be tactically astute to survive the pressure from Madrid’s physical midfield and attack.

“We will need to understand very well what is happening in the game. We will need to defend very well in a low block and have personality to be able to get out of the pressure of the opponent, who this year is taking it even more in pairs with very physical players,” he said.

Finally, Giraldez touched on his own team’s struggles with consistency, calling for unity and patience within the club.

“We’re still in all three competitions and doing a lot of things well. I think we need to be patient, try to all be on the same page, be positive, and help each other.

“Last year, when we doubted each other, we were weaker as a club, as a team. Hopefully, we can all continue on the same path. I know what we want to be and I know what we need to improve,” he concluded.

Source: Mundo Deportivo