Xabi Alonso: “No one has ever told me they don’t want to play in a certain position”

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso faced the media on Friday amid a storm surrounding Fede Valverde and his reported refusal to play at right-back, but Alonso responced clearly, saying, “no one has ever told me they don’t want to play in a certain position”, adding that “everyone wants to play, but no one has ever said that to me, everyone is very willing, and from there, I’ll be the one to decide, so let’s be clear about that”.

Xabi Alonso on the game against Villarreal

“We’re playing at home again against a team in good form, and we’ll have to perform at a high level both collectively and individually. These are important games.”

Xabi Alonso on managing players on international duty

“Normally, it is the players who pass on the information, but we are open to hearing from the coaches. If any of them arrive with injuries, their workload is monitored.”

Xabi Alonso on Fede Valverde

“He’s ready for tomorrow. Fine. He’s fine, tomorrow we should have all the fit players available, including Valverde.”

Xabi Alonso on the talk being about individuals, not teams

“We’re lucky to be able to spend a lot of time together, and I feel like the team is getting stronger. Everyone is important. Some may expect to play and not do so… but that’s normal, we have to get used to it. We have to live with it, knowing that it will happen again.”

Xabi Alonso on the differences of pressure as a coach and as a player

“It’s completely different. Being a coach is more demanding in some ways, and being a player in others. Now it’s my turn, and I’m enjoying it.”

Xabi Alonso on what he asks the fans for

“I’m not asking for anything, we have to be the ones to give. We’re going to try to win by being proactive, the way we want to.”

Xabi Alonso on whether his authority has been questioned

“We spend a lot of time together, as I said before. And we have that closeness of preparing for games, celebrating victories… that brings us closer together. I’ve always noticed that closeness in the players; knowing my role, but respecting each other. And that’s fundamental for me.”

Xabi Alonso on learning from the Atlético defeat

“You shouldn’t get too high on victories or too low on defeats. The more balanced we are, the better we’ll handle everything and the more effective we’ll be in our performance. This has happened, is happening, and will happen at any club. We don’t forget it, but we don’t dwell on it.”

Xabi Alonso on drama at Real Madrid

“I don’t give it much importance, because I focus on what I can control. The locker room, what I experience. Outside of that… I handle it pretty well. It’s not the first time, and I know it won’t be the last. I don’t let it get to me too much.”

Xabi Alonso on rotation of goalkeepers

“Lunin must always be ready, because there can always be unforeseen circumstances. We have a great goalkeeper in Thibaut, but Andriy is too. In December we have the Copa del Rey and we’ll see what decision we make. But he must feel prepared. And he is.”

Xabi Alonso on whether it bothers him when players don’t warm up

“It’s something we like, which I think is good, because you have to be prepared for anything. I want everyone to participate.”

Xabi Alonso on Jude Bellingham’s England exclusion

“Relief? No, it’s just a matter of time before he comes back. He’ll be back for the next game. Jude is recovering well from his injury and is eager to contribute. It’s just a matter of time before he reaches his best form.”

Xabi Alonso on Endrick

“He has a chance to be a starter. He’s coming off a slightly longer injury, but he’s been training well for a few weeks now and it’s just a matter of finding the right context in the game for him to come on. He has a goal-scoring instinct, a brutal finish. There’s just a lot of competition, but his time will come.”

Xabi Alonso on Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler playing together

“They can complement each other, we’ll have to see how we place the other pieces. Getting to the number ten position, Jude’s position, is very important to me. Güler has played further back and can do it. They need to flow, feel comfortable, because I’ve seen them play comfortably. They can do it. And they will, for sure.”