Real Madrid News
Xabi Alonso impressed by the character shown by four Real Madrid stars – report
After much speculation surrounding Xabi Alonso and how he has lost his grip in the dressing room, Real Madrid appear to have recovered from the mini crisis.
This is largely thanks to an impressive 4-3 win over Olympiacos this week, where multiple players showed up for their team and more importantly, their coach.
Xabi Alonso is finding positives in his squad beyond just the headline stars and in fact, has been left impressed by character shown by a few select players.
Four players impress Xabi Alonso
According to Defensa Central, the Real Madrid manager has been pleasantly surprised by the attitude of four specific players in Andriy Lunin, Raul Asensio, Ferland Mendy, and Brahim Diaz.
Despite often starting games from the bench, these four players have shown exceptional character. The report states that they do not complain about their lack of minutes. Instead, they contribute fully and give their absolute best whenever they are called upon.
Alonso reportedly believes that players like that are priceless. Their professionalism helps keep the squad competitive and allows the manager to trust his bench options during a long season.
This positive attitude reflects a wider improvement in the team’s atmosphere. After a rocky few weeks, relationships between the coaching staff and the players are now much better.
Thanks to several honest talks held in recent days, the group has resolved earlier misunderstandings. Everyone is now pulling in the same direction to stop media speculation from distracting the team.
Moreover, having reliable substitutes is crucial for Alonso, who likes to rotate his starting eleven and try different systems.
The team is currently top of La Liga and sitting in the top eight of the Champions League, thus meeting the main objectives so far.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid hope captain will resume group training tomorrow and be ready for Villarreal
Real Madrid received a major boost in training today as Kylian Mbappe participated in the group session, indicating his readiness for the upcoming game against Villarreal.
The French superstar had returned from international duty with a knee injury, but seems to have left it behind and appears ready to start at the Santiago Bernabeu come Saturday.
What about Federico Valverde?
Now, according to AS, Federico Valverde was not part of the group training session today at Valdebebas. Instead, he was involved in an individual session away from his teammates.
However, Real Madrid hope that their club captain will be able to resume working with the rest of the squad on Thursday, putting him in the fray to return in time for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal.
Valverde is currently recovering from an ankle sprain that he sustained in Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby defeat against Atletico Madrid prior to the international break.
The Uruguayan midfielder was on the receiving end of a harsh tackle from Kang-In Lee, which left him injured, ruling him out of action for the national team.
The 28-year-old stayed behind in Madrid and has worked hard on his recovery, with things progressing in the right direction.
What now remains to be seen is whether he can jump back into group training session on Thursday, which would put him on the path to return to action against Villarreal.
A key player for Mourinho
So far this season, Valverde has emerged as a permanent fixture in the team under new manager Jose Mourinho.
The Real Madrid captain has started all of the team’s eight matches in all competitions this term, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
His potential availability for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal will come as a major boost for Mourinho & co. Everything will depend on how things progress in tomorrow’s training session at Valdebebas.
With Ibrahima Konate also recovering from his knee sprain, Real Madrid have only three players sidelined currently: Raul Asencio, who recently underwent surgery, Rodrygo Goes, who is a long-term absentee, and Ferland Mendy, who has resumed work with the ball.
