Vinícius Sets the Bar for La Liga Glory; Tchouaméni Reveals Alonso's 'Simple' Message

Match Report

After Real Madrid’s convincing 3-1 victory over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu, stars Vinícius Júnior and Aurélien Tchouaméni spoke about the win’s importance and the confidence around the club ahead of the international break, insisting the side has regained its familiar character following the derby setback against Atlético Madrid.

Real Madrid’s goals came from Vinícius Júnior with a brace (minutes 47 and 69 from a penalty) and Kylian Mbappé (81).

With this result, Madrid moved to 21 points from eight games, recording seven wins and one defeat, temporarily top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona on 19 points who have a game in hand, while Villarreal stayed on 16 points in third after their second defeat of the season.

Vinícius, who shone brilliantly and scored two superb goals, expressed his happiness with his form and the team’s performance, saying what he delivers is the fruit of the confidence he feels in the club.

“It was a tough match against a team playing excellent football, but we stayed focused from the start, and I’m very happy to return to wins at the Bernabéu and put in a big performance in front of our fans. We must continue to work step by step because the season is long,” he told Real Madrid’s channel.

Adding with a smile: “I feel I’m in very good shape, I want to keep this level to help the team. I have great confidence in myself and in the group, and I’ll keep fighting to achieve more.”

Vinícius also stressed that the real challenge is to keep Madrid’s power at home, noting the Bernabéu must remain an invincible fortress, which he considers essential to winning the title.

He also said: “We must keep winning if we want to win the league. The competition is tough, and we cannot drop points at home. We’ll head into the international break in a positive mood, and we hope there are no injuries as players head to their national teams so we can return all together with the same strength.”

Vinícius’s remarks reflected the fresh spirit the squad is showing, a spirit also highlighted by coach Xabi Alonso in his praise of the players’ seriousness and tactical discipline, noting this collective spirit is what will make the difference this season.

In that same context, Tchouaméni, one of Madrid’s standout midfielders this season, had his moment not only with his performance but also by reaching his 100th La Liga appearance for Real Madrid.

The Frenchman said he was proud of the milestone, noting that wearing the royal shirt is an honor and a huge responsibility.

Speaking to the club’s channel, Tchouaméni added: “We knew Villarreal are a strong and organized side, and our aim was to win before the international break, and we did. I’m very happy with the team’s performance and the goals we scored; we must keep this tempo.”

Regarding the previous derby against Atlético Madrid, he admitted the team didn’t show its best, but stressed the importance of learning from mistakes and responding on the pitch, saying: “When we play every three days we know we must bounce back quickly. We won in Kazakhstan, and now we’ve won again at the Bernabéu. It was important to end this phase with a victory that gives us confidence for what lies ahead.”

On Alonso’s decisive instructions to beat Villarreal, Tchouaméni revealed the message was clear and simple: “We were asked to win in front of our supporters, to play with confidence, and to control the proceedings. Over time we felt more comfortable on the pitch and earned a deserved win.”

The Frenchman also expressed gratitude to the coach and teammates, noting the atmosphere in the squad is driven by teamwork and the willingness to improve.

Reflecting on reaching his 100th La Liga appearance, Tchouaméni said with pride: “I’m very happy. It’s been four years since I joined the best club in the world, and I still feel the same excitement and passion as day one. I want to stay here for many years, continue contributing to victories and trophies. This club lives on winning, and we players bear the responsibility of preserving this identity.”

Madrid’s win closes a turbulent chapter and restores calm at the White House ahead of the international break, with clear messages from the stars that everyone is moving in the same direction.

Punchline: If humor were a sniper, Madrid’s jokes would land like a precise headshot—silent, sharp, and unforgettable.

Punchline 2: Alonso’s “simple” message could be printed on a coffee cup: “One win, please, with discipline and zero injuries.”