On the eve of their Champions League clash against Juventus, Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso addressed the media at Valdebebas, sharing his thoughts ahead of what he described as one of European football’s great fixtures.
Real Madrid approach the encounter in strong form, having opened their continental campaign with two straight wins — 2–1 against Marseille and 5–0 over Kairat Almaty. Now, attention turns to the Santiago Bernabéu, where the Blancos aim to continue their momentum.
“A Classic of Europe”
“Real Madrid–Juventus? It’s a classic of Europe. A great match between two giants of the game,” said Alonso. “We feel absolutely ready, and I want to give continuity to this positive moment. My players are very motivated.”
“We’re Prepared for Juventus”
Alonso underlined the team’s readiness for a high-stakes encounter. “We’ve faced Juventus many times, and I’ve played in a few myself. We feel very well prepared. We want to win the third Champions League match and start strongly. We need the stadium behind us. People come to the Bernabéu eager to see big matches, and we must give them what they need so they can lift us in return.”
On Arda Güler
The Real Madrid coach also spoke about emerging talent Arda Güler. “Arda Güler and Özil? Arda is, in my opinion, a mix between Özil and Guti. He will continue to grow and improve, but we’re very happy with what he’s doing right now.”
On Vinícius Júnior
“Vinícius? He’s excellent and decisive. I’m happy to see him enjoying himself and smiling,” Alonso said. “We’ve discussed the impact he can have and how he can change a game. We must focus on the match and on what he does best. His daily performances are strong, and he responds very well in matches.”
On Endrick’s Future
When asked about young forward Endrick, Alonso urged patience. “Endrick on loan? We’re not at that stage yet. The competition in attack is intense. We have to be ready for every match. Endrick, Gonzalo, and Brahim all need to be prepared. Their moment will come, and when it does, they must be ready. This is the elite level, and we need many good players.”
Remembering Cardiff 2017
Reflecting on the 2017 Champions League final, when Real Madrid defeated Juventus in Cardiff, Alonso said: “That was a great match. I remember Casemiro’s long-range goal. What Zidane did here was incredible. I have huge respect for him.”
Watching Juventus Against Como
Alonso also mentioned he had watched Juventus’ recent match. “Of course I watched Juventus–Como yesterday,” he revealed. “Como played a very good match. Nico Paz has taken a really important step forward.”
