Xabi: ‘I don’t need messages of support from the club, It’s not necessary’

Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League group stage match away to Olympiacos, Xabi Alonso spoke to the press ahead of Wednesday’s game.

What kind of Real Madrid do you want to see?

We need to play well and taste victory again. It’s an important match for qualifying to the next stage and that’s how we have to approach it.

In your order of priorities... how important is managing a locker room and egos?

It’s just as important as the footballing aspect, the tactical work, and the physical training. It’s fundamental, at Real Madrid as it is at any team.

Today marks exactly six months since your arrival: from May 25th to November 25th. Are you he finding it difficult to be the Real Madrid coach?

It’s turning out to be what I expected, a very demanding job. There are times when you need concentration, others when you need to react quickly. But I’m enjoying it all, the whole package and everything that it entails.

Are you really enjoying coaching Real Madrid?

It’s demanding, that’s clear. But I’m certainly not the first coach to have to deal with these situations. They’re not new. You have to learn to live with them. We’re self-critical enough; we’re not happy with the last few matches. But we also see where we stand in La Liga and the Champions League. All things considered, I am enjoying it, yes.

Is it difficult to deal with these great players?

They’re demanding but they’re professional. They have these kinds of situations, but those are what make them who they are. And then you have to be connected with them.

It’s said that Real Madrid is more a club about players than a club about a coach... What do you think?

I believe that in every team, the most important thing is the players. What’s decisive is the quality of the players, their attitude, how well prepared they are... We support them and we have to be there for them.

Do footballers have the power to undermine a coach?

We have to have a lot of respect for the players. I’m not going to talk about that. I know what locker rooms are like, what you have to go through, and how you have to deal with the external noise. These are situations that can’t make us lose focus. The results aren’t what we wanted, we know the consequences, but we can’t let them derail us from the path we want to take.

In 2024, Olympiacos won the Conference days before Real Madrid won their fifteenth European Cup, what do you know about tomorrow’s opponent?

I don’t just follow Olympiacos because we’re playing against them. I follow them because I have a lot of respect for Mendilibar and Darko Kovacevic. Mendilibar is a great coach who plays a very intense style of football and is finally getting the recognition he already had at Eibar and other clubs, and which he’s now also getting at Olympiacos.

You played against Olympiacos with Liverpool, Real Sociedad, and Bayern. Did you know that Real Madrid has never won in Greece?

We’ve talked about it. Hopefully we can win tomorrow. There’s a first time for everything.

Less than 100 days have passed since the first game of the season and it seems that your position is already being questioned...

We know the current situation, and also our position in La Liga and the Champions League. What worries me is what happens at Valdebebas or tomorrow on the pitch, and I don’t pay attention to anything else.

Have you received any messages from the club?

It’s not necessary. I spoke with the president this morning, and I also speak with José Ángel. Our daily interactions are what keep us connected.

Mendilibar says he doesn’t yet see many differences between his Madrid and Ancelotti’s...

It’s a process. Every change takes time. No process happens immediately, and if we look at the last three matches, there are things I haven’t liked, and we’ve talked about them. But if we look back, we’ve also done some good things. We haven’t been consistent in some phases of the game, and that’s why we’ve had some bad matches. But now it’s tomorrow.

Do you feel the team is having trouble understanding your message?

Not at all. What we discussed is very clear; it doesn’t change that much from game to game. It’s just football.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.