Alonso talks Mbappe, Vinicius, Pedri, Lamine, Pintus ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso will have the opportunity to win his first trophy as Real Madrid manager tomorrow when his team faces off against arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup.

Real Madrid made it to the final after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the semifinal. While the performance was far from ideal, the team showed fight and determination, and can draw confidence from the fact that they have already beaten Barça once this season.

Moreover, the presence of Kylian Mbappe, who has arrived in Saudi Arabia and seems ready to play, will be a major boost for the Spanish capital club.

Ahead of the blockbuster clash in Jeddah, Alonso addressed the media in his pre-match press conference, providing an update on Mbappe’s condition among other things.

“We have the opportunity to play in the final and it’s a special match. We’ve wanted to be here for a long time. Tomorrow the emotional aspect will be important; we have to know how to compete in order to win,” Alonso said to kick things off.

Regarding Mbappe’s condition and readiness, Alonso stated: “He’s much better. The initial idea was that he was just fit to play against Atletico, so we decided not to rush him, but if we reached the final, depending on how he felt, he would come.

“When he trains today, we’ll have all the information we need to assess him and see if he’s ready to start or play a little less.” 

On whether they think it is worth taking the risk to rush Mbappe into the starting XI for the final, Alonso acknowledged:

“We have to measure the risk. Know what’s at stake and take responsibility for the decisions. We’re not kamikazes when it comes to making decisions. It’s a controlled risk.” 

Barcelona head into the final having had a day’s rest more than Real Madrid, given that they played their semifinal on Wednesday night. On whether it would have an impact, Alonso said:

“That’s how the draw came about. We can’t change that. We have to use our time as best we can to prepare for the final against a demanding team. There’s a mental, emotional, and also a footballing aspect. We have to prepare as well as possible.” 

Real Madrid go into the match sweating over the availability of several players, especially in defence, where it is unclear if the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, and Dean Huijsen are able to play or not.

“They’re better, we’ll train this afternoon and decide. We’re experiencing more instability in defense. Some players are putting in extra effort,” said the manager regarding his defensive unit.

“But we’re dealing with it. That extra effort will lessen the discomfort and the energy will be good.”

The manager then spoke about Vinicius Jr., who has been going through a major goal drought, and how he handles the Brazilian forward’s situation, saying:

“Every player is different. You have to be intelligent in every situation. Vini is emotional. You have to know how to be there for him.

“His teammates and the coaching staff make sure he understands. It’s a matter of timing. He’ll be back to his best and he’ll be decisive. We absolutely need him tomorrow.” 

Alonso is backing Vinicius to come good. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

“Vini has been decisive in finals. I hope to see him smile,” Alonso later added.

On whether it feels strange to him that Real Madrid do not go into the final as favourites, Alonso remarked: “Anything can happen. We are focused on what we have to do and how to play tomorrow’s match.”

Talking about how Real Madrid will approach the match against Barcelona and whether they will try to play similarly to the Bernabeu game where they won, he noted:

“The response is similar to before the Atleti match. The Metropolitano game wasn’t a reference point, but we haven’t forgotten. Now, it’s the same.

“The context might be different. Tomorrow’s match will have moments for everything. Feeling confident and having the necessary energy will be very important.” 

Talking about Barcelona, Alonso was asked if stopping Pedri, who is a key presence in their midfield unit, would be the key for Real Madrid. In response, he said:

“We know Barça well. There are no secrets. We have to play a complete game. There are many players, Pedri is one of them. There are others who are important too.” 

Giving his opinion on another Barcelona player, Lamine Yamal, Alonso added: “I’m not going to be the one to reveal anything new. The level he’s shown is fantastic.

“He’s a different kind of player. He doesn’t affect our preparation. He’s a game-changer, but the approach remains the same.”

Given Real Madrid’s physical issues this season, there has been a lot of talk about Antonio Pintus being reintegrated as the team’s fitness trainer. On whether that is indeed on the cards, Alonso said:

“We don’t plan based on peaks or troughs. We aim to be at our best throughout the entire season. Injuries mean that the workload varies, and some players are more stressed in this regard. Pintus is part of that; there’s excellent collaboration.”

Touching upon his relationship with the Real Madrid players, the manager elaborated: “Projects evolve over time. We’ve been here for just over four months. We’re evolving in terms of our football, our emotions, and the team spirit.

“We feel connected to the players. These matches can have a big impact on what’s to come. The players are committed to the moment we’re in and what’s ahead. It won’t be decisive, but it will be important.” 

On his message to those who think Real Madrid are in a difficult position, Alonso said: “It’s football. Anything can happen. We’re preparing to win. We’re confident.” 

Concluding, Alonso was asked if winning the Super Cup will be ‘liberation’ for him, given the pressure he has been under, to which he replied:

“Absolutely not. It would be a joy. But I don’t see it as a liberation.”

Source: AS