Xabi Alonso closed the press conference by assuring that winning the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona, which would mean his first title as Real Madrid coach, would not be taken as a “personal liberation” after six months immersed in a sea of doubts on the bench. Nothing to do with what Fede Valverde experienced after scoring his great goal against Atletico, his first of the season. The coach from Tolosa took to the podium at the King Abdullah Sports City to analyse all the current affairs of Real Madrid in the final, which revolves around Kylian Mbappe and his last-minute trip to join the white expedition
How is the team?: “We have the opportunity to play in the final. It’s a special match and we wanted to be here. We have to wait for this afternoon’s training session and the football and emotional aspect will be important. We are ready and we have to play a complete game.”
Favorite for the final: “It’s a football match. A final. Anything can happen and we are focused on what we have to do and how to play the game. It will be a game with moments for everything. We have to have the energy we need.”
Less rest than Barcelona: “That’s how the draw came out, we got the second semi-final and that can’t be changed. Now we have to be efficient and prepare for a final against a demanding team, in which the footballing, mental and emotional aspects will be important”.
Mbappé: “He’s much better. Against Atletico he was just right and we decided not to accelerate, but considering that he could come for the final. He flew yesterday and today he will train with the team. We will assess him and decide whether he will start or play a little less.”
Forcing Mbappé?: “It’s a decision that we will make with the player, the coaches and the doctors. We have to measure the risk. The moment we are in and what we are playing for. We are not kamikazes when it comes to making decisions. It is a controlled risk.”
Defensive issues: “The three are better but this afternoon we train and we will have the last evaluations. We are suffering more instability in defense to be able to choose players. That stresses more players who have to play more, but it is what we have to do”
Vinicius: “Each player is different. Every moment you have to have that intelligence. Vini is emotional. You have to know how to be close to him. The teammates and the coaching staff make it clear to him. It’s a matter of moments. He will return to a great level and will be decisive. We need him tomorrow.”
Fan support in Arabia: “We notice it. We feel it. It happens like that all over the world. This is the biggest club. We are grateful. We would love to feel it again tomorrow.”
Antonio Pintus: “We don’t make an approach thinking about peaks or troughs. We think about being optimal throughout the season. The injury factor means that the loads are different and there are players who are more stressed in this respect. Pintus is part of this, there is very good collaboration.”
Approach at the Bernabeu: “The answer is similar to before the Atletico game. The match at the Metropolitano was not a reference, but we do not forget. Now, the same. The context can be different. Tomorrow will be a game with moments for everything. That we feel convinced and with the necessary energy will be very important”.
Documentary and Xhaka’s words: “I think all projects evolve over time. I feel that this project, four months we have been taking away the World Cup that was brief, we are evolving in the personal and team spirit. We feel very connected to the players and these games can have a great impact for what remains. The players are with that commitment”
Lamine Yamal: “I’m not going to discover him, at his age and the level he has given… it’s fantastic. He is a different player but he does not condition the approach”
Pedri: “We know Barca well. There are no secrets. We have to play a complete game. There are many players, Pedri is one of them. There are others who are important too”
Personal liberation: “Not at all. It would be a joy. But I don’t take it as liberation”
Is the team going to the slaughterhouse?: “It’s football. Anything can happen. We are preparing to win. We are convinced”
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