Xabi Alonso: “It was a complete performance”
“The team's rhythm is good. We didn't concede a goal, another clean sheet, we were focused and had great energy," added our coach.
Xabi Alonso appeared before the media in the Bernabéu press room and analysed the match against Valencia on LaLiga matchday 11: "Mbappé scored two goals, which is a good way of making sure you are in the hunt at the end of the season, and another three points, which is a good way of making sure you can compete for titles. The team's rhythm is good. We didn't concede a goal, another clean sheet. It was a well-rounded, serious match with excellent energy. We started very energetically, with a lot of movement and moved the ball well. We won the ball back quickly and took the lead. Then we managed everything well and, overall, it was a complete performance."
“Things turned out well. In the second half, we were able to manage the game well because we knew we had a match on Tuesday. We had to be smart because some players had played a lot of minutes, and a lot of things went well. We don't want to relax, and we want to approach every game with the necessary mental preparation. Today we did that. Now it's time for Tuesday in the Champions League and Sunday in Vallecas. Starting tomorrow, it's Liverpool and Liverpool.”
Mbappé's spectacular goal-scoring record
“Time will tell how many goals he scores. He has that knack for finding the goal and being in the right place at the right time. He's going to score a lot of goals. I don't know how many, but I have a feeling he's going to score a lot of goals this season.”
Praise for Valverde
"We can all see how well-rounded he is and the level at which he's playing. With the ball, he has the soul of a midfielder and is very powerful offensively. Since he started playing, his level has been increasing and we know that he is a complete player. Due to the needs of the team, he has played as a full-back and is still playing really well.”
His reaction after Vini Jr.'s missed penalty.
“It was because he missed the penalty, because it could have been 3-0 before half-time, but then Jude scored. It was the frustration of being able to go 3-0 up and that's it. We assign the penalty takers and Kylian is the first taker. Then they make decisions. I like them to take penalties because it's a good opportunity. Kylian scored the first one and I would have liked him to score the second one too. It's no big deal. Kylian is still the first taker."
Vini Jr.'s performance
“He had a very good game.”
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Bellingham and his position
"Jude's position is one thing, and what happens before he gets there is another. When he scored his goal, he was in a very good position. We work on getting the ball to him there, and that's when he's most decisive. When we need him in that link-up play, that's when he's most decisive for me. He has the qualities to drop back and one day he'll play there. Today, we found him in a good position.”
The defence
“In a season, it's impossible for the same players to always play. We have flexible defenders and we'll soon have Alaba back. Rüdiger is still a little way off, but he'll be fine for the next block. That gives us competitive and tactical quality to be able to choose what we want, clear concepts, concentration and mental preparation to face any match.”
The decision not to train at Anfield
“It's my decision because we have to prepare for the match and we prefer to do it at our training ground, in our own space, so that we're not surrounded by 200 cameras."