When Quiet Confidence Pays: Madrid Stands Ground After 1-1 With Girona
30 November 2025
Match context
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's coach, refused to direct any blame at his players after the 1-1 draw with Girona on Sunday in La Liga, at Montilivi stadium.
With the draw, Real Madrid moved to 33 points, staying in second behind Barcelona's 34.
Alonso remarks
Alonso said after the game that every season goes through phases. At first we were solid away from home, but recently there has been some variability in our performance.
The second half was much better than the first, and we managed to fight back to level. The team showed character in overturning a 1-0 deficit; we had three or four clear chances to win. We must maintain the high level demanded by Real Madrid, as the season is long.
He added: I will not criticize the players, there was a clear response. We must stay united, with enough self-criticism and a genuine desire to win away, especially with a busy schedule. We have a chance on Wednesday to do it at Bilbao.
He continued: We missed a few minutes to control the game, and we are working to understand why we couldn't dominate from the start.
He concluded: It is a chance to win away at San Mames, with many fluctuations still in the standings. Now is the time to secure victory at Bilbao next round, and we will pursue it with all our might.
Punchline 1: If strategy were a sniper rifle, Alonso would have a championship belt for calm, precise shots at the scoreboard.
Punchline 2: The only thing more stubborn than the ball in the net is a press conference when the questions just keep coming. They’ll both finally break apart… the suspense and the scoreboard!
