Xabi Alonso expressed confidence in his Real Madrid squad’s ability to turn their season around, stating, “it’s a long season,” after they played to a 1-1 draw against Girona on Sunday. This result marked their third consecutive draw in LaLiga.
Madrid fell behind after Azzedine Ounahi scored just before halftime at Montilivi. Although Kylian Mbappé equalized from the penalty spot, the team couldn’t secure a victory.
With this outcome, Madrid now trails their rivals Barcelona by one point at the top of the standings, as Barcelona prepares to face fourth-placed Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.
“In the second half, we improved and created more opportunities,” Alonso stated in the post-match press conference. “However, we weren’t clinical enough to claim all three points. It’s a long season, and we must keep pushing forward.”
Madrid started the season strongly, winning 10 of their first 11 matches, but November has seen them draw with Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona, alongside a Champions League loss to Liverpool, raising concerns regarding Alonso’s project.
“There are different phases in a season,” Alonso noted. “At the beginning, we were more consistent away from home. The team displayed enthusiasm in coming back from a 1-0 deficit [against Girona]. We had three or four clear chances to clinch the second goal and win.”
Alonso expressed no criticism towards his players for their efforts. “I appreciated their reaction to going behind,” he said. “It wasn’t enough, but we were close. We must stay united, maintain self-criticism, and strive for victories, especially with many away games ahead. We’ll have an opportunity on Wednesday in Bilbao against Athletic Club, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Alonso also mentioned it was “surprising” that a potential foul on substitute Rodrygo in the penalty area did not warrant a review by the referee. “I haven’t seen it, but I’ve been informed that VAR might have reviewed it. These moments can be crucial in determining the outcome of the game.”