"You have to learn to live with criticism," admits Xabi Alonso | OneFootball

After two draws in the Spanish Championship and a defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, the coach of Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso, emphasized on Tuesday the "demands" of his position and the need to "live" with criticism.

Before Wednesday's match against Olympiacos in the Champions League, the first rumors about the Spanish coach's management emerged, who turned 44 this Tuesday.

"It's demanding, but I'm certainly not the first coach to deal with these situations," Alonso acknowledged about his role as Real Madrid's coach.

"These are not new situations. You have to know how to live with them. We have the necessary standards and self-criticism. We are not happy with the situation we are in," he added, mentioning that other coaches, such as the Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, the Portuguese José Mourinho, and the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him during his time as a player at Real Madrid, also faced similar moments and criticism.

Leading the Spanish league with a one-point advantage over Barcelona and within the Top 8 of the Champions League, which guarantees a direct spot in the round of 16, Real Madrid, despite the recent drop in performance, remains well-positioned in the fight for titles.

"We need a good game after these last matches, to get back to the taste of victory. For that, we have to play well, we have to be focused, and we have to know that this is an important match," he said about the clash against the Greek club, led by fellow Basque José Luis Mendilibar.

In a press conference where questions focused on the alleged problems in the locker room and his questioned position, Alonso insisted on being aware of the pressure surrounding his role.

"It is showing what I expected, a very demanding job, with good moments, with moments where you need concentration, connection. Moments where you need to show a reaction. I think this is one of them, but I am enjoying everything that it entails," declared the coach, who also spoke about his squad.

Managing the locker room is "as important as the football philosophy, tactical work, and physical training. Managing personalities, ensuring that players feel good, is a process with different phases that need to be conducted correctly. In any team, and at Real Madrid, of course, it is fundamental."

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