Alonso: I don’t know if Mbappe can play; it’s a luxury to let Modric play his remaining energy

At 3 am on June 18, Real Madrid will play against Riyadh Crescent in the first round of the Club World Cup group stage. On the eve of the game, Real Madrid coach Xavi Alonso attended the press conference, and this article is the first part of the press conference.

What other aspects need to be improved the most?

We have been training for several days and the players are returning to the team one after another. The internationals are all back, and those who play in the United States are back later... But I think it's running distance and position, which can make us better. You must be clear about where you should be, do a good job in running, and make the team more "unified".

Where do you want Bellingham to play?

He has the ability to cover a large field, but he has to start at the right position. He has the qualities of a midfielder, likes to create opportunities, and has the ability to move forward. We talked about the starting position, but his running position is flexible.

Ancelotti has mentioned "defensive investment" many times. How do you view the importance of this?

Nowadays, it is crucial to maintain balance. Players must have defensive investment and all players must participate in each stage. I hope the team will be united and we have discussed that, because it will make us a lot easier. I believe that by the last day of the event, we will be stronger than when we started, because we will continue to improve the problem. Tomorrow is a new beginning, let's wait and see the final result.

Have you ignited the enthusiasm of the players?

This has to ask themselves. I could feel that after a wonderful phase, they were full of motivation and anticipation. There are new faces in the team, and everyone is very accepting of them. Now is a good time for everyone. As for whether it "ignited" enthusiasm, it must be decided on the court. The game will begin tomorrow.

How is Mbappe's condition? What about other players?

Killian felt better this morning, but he hasn't fully recovered. It was too hot, so it would be better not to let him participate in training. But we will wait until the last moment to make a decision tomorrow morning. As for the other players... they are all very motivated, but their condition is different. Rudiger has put in a huge effort this season. I don’t know if he will be on the roster tomorrow, but he recovers well and will be the first to return. Other players will need more time. Kamavenga recovers quickly, but it also takes time. Will the heat during the

worry you?

I am not worried at all, because this is a certain fact and we can do nothing. Of course, high temperatures have an impact, but we can only accept and adapt.

Do you think the team's current training state is "not invested enough"?

The daily training is very good, and the players are also very capable in their personal abilities. Actually, I have known this for a long time, and now I need to train well. I respect and value Carlo (Ancelotti)'s work very much, he is the coach with the most honors. But now we have begun a new stage and will do it our own way. But I took over a very good foundation.

Can you tell me about Rodrigo's situation?

I can only say part of it. I know the end of the season is not easy for him, but he leaves himself with a big time to adjust his form. He was not selected for the national team either. We have communicated since the beginning... I saw him full of motivation. He is a very capable player. We have exchanged a lot of ideas. Now I'm waiting to put them into practice

Do you have any plans for Celeros?

We communicate on a daily basis... He is a very smart player, but we have not had "in-depth conversations". But we have talked about the team and the heights we can reach. I'm very satisfied with him.

How do you evaluate the Riyadh Crescent?

Simone Inzaghi doesn't have much time to lead the team to train, but their players are very strong: Mitrovic, Milinkovic Savic, Malcolm... This is a very powerful club, has won the AFC Champions League championship, and their coach has also reached the Champions League final. As for what will happen tomorrow, let's wait and see, but it will be a very challenging game.

What role do you want Mbappe to play in the team?

We have 11 players, and the key is to ensure that everyone has the same goals. We have been working in this direction in just a few days, but there is still a long way to go.

Is there a possibility of Real Madrid winning the championship? How do you evaluate Mastantono?

There is no doubt that Real Madrid will always be a favorite to win the championship, but it will be proved with actual performance later. We won't be too focused on July 13 (final day) because there is still a long way to go to that point, but winning the championship is our goal. As for Franco… we are very satisfied because he performs well now and has unlimited potential in the future. He was also very mature off the court, and I was impressed by the conversation with him: he was both ambitious and mature, and it was no accident. We've been paying attention to his performance in the riverbed, and the progress he made there has brought him to Real Madrid and he'll be very important.

Can you reveal some of the content you talked to Mastantono?

That doesn't work, of course not (laughs)!

How do you feel personally now?

Obviously, I was full of motivation. Training and communication are good, but I want to see the team's performance in the game, which will tell us a lot. We want to win the game first and will do our best for it, but the process of the game has its value.

What do you have to do with Modric in the remaining games?

It was easy to work with Luca because our relationship has always been very good. From teammates, friends to the relationship between players and coaches today, we always trust each other when communicating. I'm so happy to see the impact he has on young players and we want to enjoy his time on the team because he is an epoch-making, legendary player. It would be a luxury to be able to let him use his spare energy in the last period of time.

How long does it take to get the team to its ideal state?

I don't know, but we've been working on this goal since day one. I am very satisfied with the team's lineup and signings. Heysen and Trent (Alexander Arnold) are both great players. They don’t need much training and theoretical guidance and have strong learning skills. A new process has begun and will officially start tomorrow.

Galliado (Water Bed head coach) said that the introduction of Mastantono has caused damage to the River Bed... Do you understand his view?

Well, I watched this game, 3-1, it was a wonderful game, and I didn't think they were affected much (laughs).