Real Madrid secured their position at the top of the La Liga table on Sunday, earning a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Getafe at the Coliseum, thanks to a late goal from Kylian Mbappe.
According to Diario AS, head coach Xabi Alonso shared his thoughts on the match, which he anticipated would be challenging for his team.
“It was an extremely demanding and complex match. Playing at Getafe is never simple; you need to compete at a high level. You must be prepared since the game is not always… aesthetically pleasing. However, the team stood up to the challenge and worked hard. We had some chances to take the lead in the first half. In the end, we enjoyed ourselves, even if the match wasn’t pretty. Maintaining focus and executing our game plan was crucial. We will head into next week with positive energy.”
Alonso: “Vinicius Junior was a game changer, he drew the cards”
Alonso also commented on the influence of Vinicius Junior after coming off the bench. The Brazilian international’s introduction led to fouls that resulted in Getafe players Allan Nyom and Alex Sancris receiving red cards.
“He had a significant impact. We discussed it this morning: he could have been vital from the start, but he changed the game even while coming off the bench. He was unbalanced and forced cards, which ultimately gave us the upper hand. The key takeaway is that everyone understands their importance in their respective roles.”
Alonso provides updates on Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba’s injuries
Alonso also addressed the conditions of David Alaba, who was substituted at half-time, and Thibaut Courtois, who suffered a knee knock during the latter stages of the match after making a crucial save.
“I believe Courtois is fine. Alaba experienced some tightness; it’s not an injury, but his calf was stiffening up, and we didn’t want to take any risks. We will assess him further tomorrow.”