Xabi Alonso: "It was a solid victory, rather than a brilliant one, but it was good"
"The players have to shoot from distance, especially against teams that sit so deep. It's a good solution," said the coach.
Xabi Alonso appeared in the Bernabéu press room and analysed the victory over Espanyol on matchday five of the LaLiga season: "It was a solid victory, rather than a brilliant one, but it was good. We controlled the game and didn't have any stressful situations, such as conceding goals or red cards. They're not the most entertaining, but I like them. We controlled the second half well and had chances to score a third. It's a victory that allows us to continue growing and to focus on Tuesday's game against Levante."
"The players have to shoot from distance, especially against teams that sit so deep. It's a good solution. With Gonzalo on the pitch, we were able to cross more. Espanyol sat deeper than I expected and we had to work hard for the win. It could be a sign of what we're going to face at home. We're moving forward and with the three points, we can analyse things more calmly”.
Bellingham and Camavinga
"Bellingham is an attacking midfielder who can link up with both midfielders and forwards. He has an impressive range and the more we find him, the better we will play. Since we started in August, we have been getting things set up and now we have two more options after long injuries. That's very good news."
Bellingham's compatibility with Arda Güler
“They can play in similar positions and together. They played together in the Club World Cup, and that's something I have in mind. They complement each other fairly well. One with his range and quality and Arda to link up with him. It's a really good option to pair them with Fede, Tchouameni and Ceballos, who had a good game in San Sebastian. It opens up possibilities for me in terms of management.”
Vini Jr.
“He was just missing a goal today. At the moment when he was at his best, I took him off and I could have waited a little longer, but I thought it was best to bring on some fresh legs. He and Franco wanted to continue, but there are still a lot of games to play. He hit the post and it was a pity. I’m happy with the game both of them played and at certain moments you need fresh legs because the schedule is very demanding.”
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Managing the group
“It's great that we have options. The more good decisions we make, the better we'll do, and the more mistakes we make, the worse we'll do. The season is very long. We're in the sixth game of the season and we shouldn't jump to any conclusions.”
Asencio's performance
“What happened at the Club World Cup, not just to him but to the whole team, was important to put behind us because it was a different context. He's ready and he gave a very solid performance. We spoke this morning and he played with a lot of confidence. It's very good news for the team and for him to finish on the high note he did”.
Mastantuono
“We need a player who has width and can link up with others. He has a lot of quality and as long as he performs, he will play. I think he's doing well and I know he's eager to score his first goal. Everything comes in time, and the more you force it, the longer it takes to happen. By being natural and doing what needs to be done, the goal and extraordinary things will come.”
Mbappé
“He’s played in a different role. He’s played more as a playmaker and we’ve talked about what we need with and without the ball. His position on the pitch has helped him with his excellent transitions. He understands football very well and if you explain things to him, he does them. He’s done really well and it’s another role from a different position as a second striker.”