Huijsen, Garcia react after Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal – ‘The club is everything to me’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s summer signing, Dean Huijsen, made his official debut for the club in their 1-1 draw against Al Hilal at the Club World Cup.

Speaking to the media after the match, the young defender expressed his excitement and pride. “I’m still sweating. It’s really hot out there, but that’s the same for both teams,” he said with a smile.

Huijsen felt positive about his performance despite the result. “I think I did well for my first match. We were the better side and could have come away with more, but that’s football. We’ll continue to work and improve,” he added.

Alonso’s message

The centre-back also shared what manager Xabi Alonso told the players at halftime. “He asked us to keep pushing and control the ball more. If we stayed patient, the chances would eventually come.”

When asked about the level of the opposition, Huijsen responded confidently. “Al Hilal played well, just as we expected. They didn’t surprise us. I felt comfortable with both Asencio and Tchouameni alongside me.”

On teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, he said, “Trent is top quality. He’s going to offer a lot to the team.”

Gonzalo Garcia celebrates his goal

Gonzalo Garcia scored Real Madrid’s only goal. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Gonzalo Garcia, who scored Real Madrid’s only goal in the game, also spoke after the final whistle. “It’s a dream come true,” he said.

“Wearing this shirt and starting for Real Madrid is everything to me. I’m happy about the goal, but it feels bittersweet because we were aiming for a win.”

Garcia revealed Xabi Alonso’s tactical advice. “He told me to stay close to the centre-backs and be ready for any crosses or loose balls in the box. That’s exactly what I did, and it paid off.”

When asked about his future with the first team, Garcia remained humble but hopeful. “Right now, I’m not thinking too far ahead.

“I just want more opportunities like this one. This club means everything to me, and I’ve been dreaming of this since I joined the youth academy.”

The young forward also gave credit to his Raul Asencio. “Asencio is a great teammate. Like many of us coming from Castilla, C team or the U19s, we’ve all stepped up. It shows that Real Madrid has depth and talent ready to contribute.”

Source: MARCA