Real Madrid News
Alonso talks Vinicius, Mbappe, Bellingham, Mastantuono, Rodrygo, Cazorla ahead of Oviedo vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be in action for a second time this week as they take on newly-promoted Real Oviedo on Matchday 2 of La Liga tomorrow.
The Merengues kicked off the new campaign under new manager Xabi Alonso with a narrow 1-0 home win over CA Osasuna, courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
While there were a number of positives for Alonso on his La Liga managerial debut, he and Real Madrid know that there is plenty of work to be done for them to be in a position to challenge reigning champions Barcelona.
Ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Oviedo, where he will come up against his former Spain teammate Santi Cazorla, Alonso spoke to the media, addressing several matters.
Kicking things off, the Real Madrid boss touched upon on the kind of match he is expecting on Sunday, saying:
“I’m sure it’s a special match for Oviedo and its fans. Now we’re going to play, and it’s also very important for us to continue growing away from home, to be competitive, and no matter where we play, to continue performing at a high level.
“It’s the third week since we started, but we’re excited for tomorrow’s match.”
Over the past few days, there has been speculation that Alonso will hand new signing Franco Mastantuono his first start for Real Madrid on Sunday. When asked if the Argentine was ready for a starting berth, the manager said:
“I saw him in good shape the other day. He had a good impact, good energy. Since he’s in the squad, he has a chance to play like everyone else.”
Alonso then took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing his playing days with Santi Cazorla, who will be in action for Oviedo tomorrow.
“I haven’t spoken because I’ve been more focused on the game, on us. I have spectacular memories of him, as a player and teammate. At Euro 2008, everyone who was there made a great locker room,” said the Real Madrid boss.
“You can see the affection the fans have for him, and then, in terms of football, he’s an exceptional player. I’m very happy for everything he’s done. He’s back home, and I hope he enjoys being a role model in Oviedo.”
One of the major challenges Alonso faces is to restore Vinicius Jr. to his best form. The Spanish tactician responded to a question whether he sees the Brazilian as a guaranteed starter in his team, saying:
“I mentioned the other day that the World Cup context is a little different. We’re only one game in, and statistics have to be taken with a grain of salt.
“All the players are important, and I’m counting on them, and since I’ve been making the squad, anyone can be a starter.”
On whether all the noise surrounding the forward is bothering him, Alonso said: “I think he’s doing well. We’re only a short time into the season. We’re just getting started. Everyone is eager to have a good year and everyone is in a good frame of mind. That’s key.”
Regarding Rodrygo’s situation and whether he has spoken to the forward about his role, Alonso remarked:
“For me, the season has begun, and my time has almost come. We’re only one game in. All the decisions about playing and making the starting eleven are mine, solely and exclusively. I speak with many players, and I’ve spoken with Rodrygo too, of course.”
On the matter of set-pieces and direct free-kicks, in particular, Alonso touched upon who at Real Madrid could be entrusted with those responsibilities, saying:
“We haven’t been able to work too hard yet, but there are players who have a lot of quality: Arda, Trent, Mastantuono, Kylian… We still have things to do. We do have plenty of options.”
On whether he would have liked for Real Madrid to sign a new central midfielder, the manager said: “I’m happy with the squad we have, but you always have to be prepared.”
Talking about the role in which he sees Mastantuono fitting the best, Alonso explained: “He can play both in the frontline and as a playmaker.
“He played many times as a No. 10 at River Plate. He has the quality to play both. He has that mobility, that ability to connect with those around him…”
Regarding the absence of Jude Bellingham and how he is dealing with it, Alonso remarked: “You have to adapt. No one is going to play every minute; everyone will have their role.”
Getting into the tactical side of things, Alonso was asked if he had a defined formation in his mind for his Real Madrid team. In response, the manager said:
“We talk a lot about the game, about how we can improve. With just a few games, you have little information, and we have to analyze. There are profiles for playing different systems, keeping a clear idea and why we want to do things. We can be flexible.”
On whether he felt his Real Madrid team are close enough to compete with Barcelona or not, Alonso replied:
“I’m not worried about anything. I’m worried about my level, how we’re doing. Every week we’ll be able to improve and grow as a team.”
Concluding, Alonso was asked about Kylian Mbappe and whether he had set a goal-target for the Frenchman this season.
“No, I’m going to try to help him and have him help the team win games. He’s a fundamental part of the team. The better the pieces fit together will be one of the keys to the season’s performance as a team,” said Alonso.
Source: AS
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
