Xabi Alonso on Mastantuono’s reaction after subbing off vs Espanyol | OneFootball

Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 this Saturday, September 20, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, thus remaining the sole leader at the top of the LaLiga standings with a perfect score (15 out of 15). Additionally, this was another match in which Franco Mastantuono started (it is now the fourth out of six games this season in which he has been included in the starting lineup).

The native of Azul played 77 minutes, making it the longest time he has spent on the field since arriving in European football (until then, he had been coming off around the 60th minute, except for the match against Osasuna, in which he entered in the second half, and the game against Real Sociedad, after the FIFA break, in which he did not play any minutes).

Nevertheless, although Xabi Alonso relied on him for much of the match corresponding to the fifth round of LaLiga 2025/2026, Franco Mastantuono expressed his annoyance at having to leave the pitch. The Merengue coach made this clear in the press conference after the match that took place at the Casa Blanca.

“Franco said to me: ‘You’re taking me off?’ Yes, Franco, I’m taking you off,” Xabi Alonso recounted regarding the moment when the former River player left the field during the hydration break (which is applied at the 30-minute mark of each half during the European summer). Even so, the coach understands his players’ frustration at being substituted and explained why he needs to replace them: “In the end, it happens to everyone, but I’m happy with the match Franco played. Still, I need fresh players because the schedule is demanding.”

On the other hand, he expressed his satisfaction at having secured another three points that strengthen Real Madrid’s position at the top of the domestic league standings: “It was a solid victory, more than a brilliant one, but they are good wins. With control, without situations that stress us. They’re not the most entertaining, but I like them.”

Xabi Alonso warns that Mastantuono will play “as long as he performs” In another part of the press conference, Xabi Alonso detailed his analysis of Franco Mastantuono’s play: “I think that in the position he plays, we need that type of player, one who provides width. With him, we have verticality and the quality he brings… As long as he performs, he will play.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.