Xabi Alonso cleared the ball on Lamine Yamal’s controversial statements… to focus on what is going to happen tomorrow on the pitch in the first Clasico of the season. A ‘big’ game in which Real Madrid, beyond the three points, needs to recover that aura of superiority on the big nights. In recent times, that unbeatable and feared version seems to crack when the most demanding challenges arrive. It happened last year and in Xabi’s new project, history repeats itself with a painful full house against the big teams: defeats against PSG and Atletico, both by a landslide.
First Clasico
“A Clasico is special, it has been for many years. It is the first of the season and of this new project. We need the stadium to have the energy of big games and special moments. To push us and to vibrate so that we can then celebrate it with our people.”
Lamine Yamal
“It’s an important game. It has many ingredients for us to play well and enjoy it. That’s what excites us the most and the biggest incentive for tomorrow.”
Races
“Everyone who comes on can and must be decisive defensively and offensively. We expect the maximum individual and collective level to compete in a match of the highest level.”
Past classics
“The moment is different, our project is different and it is just beginning. We want to enhance our strengths and be able to play a good game.”
Lamine Yamal
“I’m not going to get into that. There are a lot of statements from the people of Barcelona and we cannot assess them all. The important thing is the green, what happens on the field, where we come from, what we have ahead of us and how we play the game. That is what worries us the most and what we have been working on.”
Eleven
“I have the eleven in my head, we have recovered almost all the players. Tomorrow you will see the eleven.”
Someone who reaches 80%
“We have recovered almost all the players who could not be against Juventus. Tomorrow you will see the eleven, but everyone who is in the squad can play.”
Advanced defense and Mbappe’s change
“There are situations that can arise because of the qualities of our players. Before the offside we have to do more things, small fundamental details that can make the difference in these matches.”
How are you going to the Clasico?
“We are aware of the game we have and its importance. But the day-to-day dynamics do not change. It is a special game, which we have marked, but it does not change too much. We arrive in a good mood and level of competitiveness. Tomorrow is the moment.”
Another big rival after PSG and Atletico
“I want it to go well and for us to win. We face every game with the utmost demands and tomorrow’s game has a special flavour”
Post-match reaction after the Derby
“A few more weeks have passed and we have corrected certain things. Tomorrow we arrive in a good moment; in terms of mood, football and competitiveness. It’s a good moment.”
Does Real Madrid play well?
“We are competing very well, but I think we can play even better. We are building a solid foundation to be reliable. We have to take the next step, but we are playing good football.”
11 wins in 12 games… and they only remember the derby
“For the project I don’t know, they are important matches. I like to evaluate the process and in these 12 matches there has been an improvement. No trophy is awarded yet and no medal is won, there is a long season ahead. Right now the most important thing is tomorrow.”
Lamine Yamal
“The most important thing is us: our quality and our strength. Then there are the small game plans about what we want, with and without the ball. We must be together, control the moments of pressure and distances. It is what we are sustaining to be more consistent in performance.”
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