Xabi Alonso ready for Kairat Almaty challenge after derby debacle – ‘Now, it’s Champions League mode’ | OneFootball

Following their first defeat of the season this past weekend, Real Madrid will be eager to return to winning ways when they take on Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos suffered a humiliating 5-2 loss at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Saturday in La Liga, ending their 100% winning record in the new season.

As such, Xabi Alonso & co. will be under pressure to produce a strong reaction, but the game against Kairat in Kazakhstan might end up being a tricky affair.

Alonso talks Kairat Almaty

Ahead of the contest tomorrow, the Real Madrid manager addressed the media in his press conference, discussing various topics, including the derby debacle.

“It’s a Champions League match. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is or where we’re playing, we want to win. Getting off to a good start is important, we’ve already won at home and we want to pick up points away from home,” said Alonso to kick things off.

Talking about the long journey to Almaty for the game and the short time between matches, the Real Madrid boss stated:

“You have to adapt. We’ve changed the usual roadmap a bit. The smartest person is the one who adapts best. The match is just another match, it’s not an excuse.”

On whether there will be any changes to the way they prepare for this game, he remarked:

“Play well, press well, defend well, attack well… With our form, with whoever plays, it will be a competitive match. Kairat are well organised and have momentum. We’ll have to take them seriously from the start.”

Going into detail about what Real Madrid can expect from their opponents in Kazakhstan, Alonso elaborated:

“We’ve seen their matches, against Celtic, against Sporting… They have a well-formed core, with different options in attack. They know how to combine well, they play direct, they’re clear about it. We have to compete well.”

On the derby demolition

Ready to bounce back after derby defeat. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Regarding the defeat to Atletico Madrid, he noted: “I think that both in victory and defeat, the feeling should last 24 hours. Then comes the analysis. It wasn’t just attitude. It was also pace, tactical things, things about the game.

“The other thing is a bit simplistic. We didn’t compete well. We’ve done the analysis and we’re going to use it. Now, it’s Champions League mode.”

On whether his team was lacking the desired attitude in the derby, he replied: “We have to turn the page. The 24 hours have passed, we are thinking about what to do tomorrow, about the team that is going to play. We don’t want to drop points.”

Continuing, he added: “There are footballing reasons, we weren’t at our best. It wasn’t just attitude. It’s part of the learning process. We’ve been at it for 58 days, right? And here we are. It hurts, it has hurt, but we’re already in Champions League mode.”

On his players

One of the major talking points from the derby was Alonso’s decision to start Jude Bellingham despite the Englishman returning only recently from an injury layoff, which showed in his performance.

Discussing Bellingham’s condition as well his options in the midfield department, Alonso explained:

“Every match tells me something. I like to analyse them, see what we had prepared and what came out of it. With the players we have, we can choose from several options. We need Jude, Fede, Arda…

“It didn’t turn out as we expected the other day, but we have many options for what’s to come.”

On whether there is a good connection within the dressing room at Real Madrid, the manager said: “I haven’t seen a lack of talks, I’ve seen that there are talks. And they are essential for building a game plan and a spirit.

“We are in a construction phase. I don’t know how long it will last. Sometimes, to take a step forward, you have to take two steps back. We are going to improve.”

When asked if he plans to rotate heavily for the game against Kairat Almaty tomorrow, Alonso remarked:

“We’re going to field eleven players, and they’re eleven Real Madrid players. It will be a competitive team to play against a side making their Champions League debut, who will demand a high level of performance from us.”

Source: AS