Alonso Keeps It Honest: Real Madrid’s Gritty 2-1 Win Over Alavés Sparks Sharp Reflections
14 December 2025
Post-Match Reflections: Alonso on a hard-fought La Liga win
What did Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's manager, say after the 2-1 win over Deportivo Alavés on Sunday?
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's head coach, expressed happiness after the 2-1 victory in La Liga's round 15 against Alavés.
He described the match as highly competitive: we started very well, then lost some control. In the second half we began strongly again, but we conceded the goal at the one moment the defense erred, despite a solid display. The team showed character, and the second goal gave us the three points. We leave happy because the objective was to win.
On Vinícius Júnior's disputed penalty that was not given, Alonso commented: 'For me, the decision is clear. What surprises me is the absence of a VAR review. We must keep working, despite that. It is not surprising anymore.'
Regarding the referee Víctor García Verdura, Alonso added: 'We leave it at that.'
He spoke about the team's performance and substitutions: 'The performance was better than in the match against Celta. There are things to improve and we need consistency. I hope we learn from this game and the lessons won't be forgotten. There is no fixed pattern linking Celta, Manchester City, and today's game.'
He also stressed the importance of calm and unity: 'We are very focused on our work. I value this win a lot given the injuries we suffer. Everyone is united, and the dynamics are not defined by a single game. The road ahead is long, and unity is essential.'
With the victory, Real Madrid rose to 39 points, in second place, four behind leaders Barcelona, while Alavés sit on 18 points in twelfth.
Punchline: If patience is a virtue, VAR must be a cathedral gift shop.
Punchline 2: Alonso’s post-match quotes are so sharp they deserve a goal-line replay.
