Real Madrid tasted their first defeat of the season as they fell 5-2 to Atlético Madrid in the capital derby played at the Metropolitano, the Los Blancos never found their rhythm, conceding early and struggling to impose themselves both with and without the ball, Softfootball reports
Head coach Xabi Alonso was totally honest in his post-match presser via the team’s official webite, he admitted that his side played well below the standards. The Spaniard accepted responsibility for the display but aslo stressed that the pain of this defeat must be used as motivation for improvement.
Alonso began by admitting that Madrid’s performance was far from the level expected, and that the result was a fair reflection of how the team played, he said;
It was a bad game from us. We didn’t start well and we didn’t play well collectively, we didn’t perform at the required level with or without the ball. We’re still building and this is our first defeat. It’s not over yet. We need to learn from this for the future. We’re hurting because it was a deserved defeat. We missed a gear and the defeat hurts.
The boss stated that although the result was painful, it should be seen as an early test of the team resolve and character. He called on his players to channel the frustration today into motivation, warning that they must quickly rediscover their competitive edge.
The Madrid boss further reflected on the structural problems in the performance, pointing out that his side lacked strength and solutions in key moments, he said;
It’s a positive setback for the future. We’ve been too weak in duels and when playing long balls, and we haven’t found solutions with the ball. It was a poor performance overall and a deserved defeat. That’s football, and defeats happen sometimes. It was our first, and we’re certainly going to learn from it. The defeat was deserved, and there are no complaints about the refereeing. It’s our first defeat, and it’s painful. We’re all hurting. We feel very responsible, and now we have to look ahead. We’re just starting the season, and this isn’t the level we want to perform at.
Alonso stated that there can be no excuses when the performance level drops, and reiterated the importance of maintaining intensity in all phases of the game.
Turning his attention to the bigger picture, Alonso urged his players to see the pain as a chance to reset and refocus, he stated;
We’re not pleased with how we played today, but we also don’t want to forget where we came from. We want to get back on track, and there are always tough days when you’re building something. The important thing is how we react and how we improve. We have to take the positives from the pain we’re feeling today.
On team selection and individual roles, Alonso explained his reasoning while admitting that the group failed to execute on the night, he said;
We need everyone and we were training well. We haven’t been fluid with the ball and we’ve been losing duels. We haven’t recovered in the opposition’s half either. We’ll analyse the decisions and learn from them. We won’t forget this tough defeat. It’s a process of building and today we didn’t perform at the level we’d have liked. We have to be critical of ourselves, draw conclusions and try to improve.
The coach stressed that squad depth will be key as the season unfolds, but admitted that tactical choices alone could not explain the lack of intensity. For him, the collective responsibility remains the most important factor.
Asked what troubled him most about the defeat, Alonso pointed to a lack of competitiveness and intensity across the pitch.
The most worrying thing is why we lacked that intensity. We didn’t compete enough and we weren’t at the level required for these matches and these opponents. We have to raise our game. That’s what we have to do. I felt we needed to raise our game in every aspect.
The Spaniard admitted that against high-level opposition, Madrid cannot afford to be second best in duels or energy. He called on his squad to rediscover their fighting spirit and match the demands of such contests.
Alonso also revealed what was he said to the team during the half tim break, noting that he urged his players to restart the game with greater focus,he said
We talked at half-time about starting a new game, but we didn’t manage to do that. There were circumstances: the penalty, the free kick and losing possession. We didn’t play to our usual standard and we were deservedly punished.
Despite attempts to rally, Madrid remained off the pace and vulnerable to Atlético’s pressure. Alonso acknowledged that the punishment was deserved and that his side must learn to reset more effectively.
Finally, Alonso dismissed any suggestion of external factors playing a role in the defeat, insisting the responsibility lies solely with him and his players.
We’re not going to use a recurring point as an excuse for our defeat. We didn’t perform to our usual standard, and we need to use this pain in a positive way, both individually and collectively.
Real Madrid will now look to regroup immediately, with Alonso challenging his squad to comeback stronger. The manager knows this setback will likely test his side’s resolve, but also believes it could serve as experience if they learn the right lessons.
