Alonso talks Vinicius, Garcia, Mbappe, Rudiger, Bellingham, Endrick after RB Salzburg 0-3 Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso shared his joy after his team beat RB Salzburg, a victory that secured their place as group winners in the Club World Cup round of 16.

Up next, they willl face Juventus in what promises to be an exciting clash. Speaking after the match, Alonso highlighted Vinicius Jr.’s outstanding performance.

“I’m not just happy with his goal and assist,” he said, “but also with how he came back to help in defence and his effort in pressing.

“He had freedom in attack and worked well with Gonzalo. Many players left the pitch feeling good. I’m really happy for him and the whole team, but we know the journey is still long.”

On Gonzalo Garcia

Alonso has nothing but praise for Gonzalo Garcia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

When asked about young striker Gonzalo Garcia, Alonso made it clear he always believed in him.

“What he’s doing doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s shown it many times with Castilla. He’s a classic number nine who waits for the right moment and moves smartly.

“He reminds me of Raúl with his movements. I’m very happy for him. But there are no decisions yet about next season.”

Integrating Vini, Mbappe, and Garcia

Alonso is confident about getting the best out of his attacking stars. “Of course, they can play together. It’s not about each one doing their own thing, but about building a strong unit,” he explained.

On Kylian Mbappe’s chances of returning for the round of 16 against Juventus, Alonso said, “We want him back in top shape. I can’t confirm if he’ll play, but we’re optimistic for Tuesday.”

He also addressed Antonio Rudiger’s condition after the game, saying, “He just had cramps, nothing serious. He’s comfortable playing with three centre-backs, like at Chelsea. He gives us strength and helps us stay flexible.”

On Guler, Bellingham and Endrick

Alonso explained integration of Guler and Bellingham. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Discussing his midfield options, Alonso praised Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham. “With Jude between the lines, we can create superiority. Arda plays deeper, controls well, and links nicely with the defenders.”

He also provided an update on Endrick, the young Brazilian star, stating,

“He’s still recovering, but we want him back soon. He’ll join us in the US for training, and I’m counting on him for the future.”

Lastly, when asked if any injured Real Madrid star will return in the round of 16, he said, “Well, let’s wait and see. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. We thought Mbappe would make it to this one, but that wasn’t the case.

“There are four days of preparation left, and I want to be optimistic, but also cautious. We’ll see,” he concluded.

Source: AS