Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Xabi Alonso highlighted the good attitude that the Real Madrid players showed this Wednesday against Manchester City despite the 1-2 defeat that the whites suffered against Pep Guardiola’s team. «We have nothing to reproach ourselves for. We tried until the end, we started well and got ahead, but there are times when any blow hurts you more and that’s how it has been. In 10 minutes, with a corner and a penalty, they took the lead, when the game was being serious, competitive. But we have conceded, we have not controlled those situations well and then the team has tried. In better or worse ways, but we have tried until the end. “We have had chances, we lacked finesse to score a goal… but I have nothing to reproach anyone,” said the Tolosa coach.
He elaborated on the effect that O’Reilly’s goal had on his team, which allowed Manchester City to neutralize Rodrygo’s previous goal. «When you are in a delicate moment, not only in the game, but where we come from, with the losses we are experiencing at the moment… you look a little less solid. And that has made us rise too quickly. In these games you have to concede very little and we have done that, but enough for them to turn it around. And then when things don’t work out, you have chances, in the second half some to score, but we haven’t managed to do it,” analyzed the Real Madrid coach after a match in which the Bernabéu ended up expressing its disagreement with the local footballers in the form of whistles.
«There have been moments of everything; also some in which he has applauded and pushed well until the end. We have tried. And we are not happy with the streak we are on, obviously, but I have nothing to reproach. And never to the fans, because they have seen a lot and know a lot about this. And neither do the players today,” explained Xabi Alonso about the anger of the Real Madrid parish due to a disastrous streak of results that is aggravated by the defeat against City.
Xabi Alonso applauded Rodrygo’s good game, by far the best of his team on the night in which he put an end to more than nine months without scoring a goal for Real Madrid. «I am very happy for him, because he came from a difficult moment, without playing so much and today Rodrygo was a great. He played very well, he was unbalanced and he scored that goal which is very important for him. That we were able to see him is one of the best news today. And then the closeness of the people, the team, that’s there. And together is how we can turn it around. I appreciate it,” said the Basque coach.
Finally, he cleared the air about his future. «I am worried about the next game. The important thing here is Real Madrid. It’s the team, the players and how I can help them. The issue is not about me,” argued the Gipuzkoan, who will take a new test on Sunday against Alavés in Mendizorroza.
