Real Madrid really should have put the game against Talavera to bed far before proceedings got complicated, for they had chances to go 3-0 and even 4-0 up on the night.Yet, they stayed put after scori...
Real Madrid really should have put the game against Talavera to bed far before proceedings got complicated, for they had chances to go 3-0 and even 4-0 up on the night.
Yet, they stayed put after scoring two goals and handed the hosts an impetus to push for a comeback after they scored once in the 80th minute.
The final scoreline read 3-2 in Los Blancos’ favour, but the game was not half as close as it appears.
Nonetheless, the team will take home the win and now prepare for the final league game of the year before the Christmas break.
Alonso speaks
Xabi Alonso is satisfied with the performance. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Speaking after the narrow win, Xabi Alonso insisted that such close encounters are famous in the Copa del Rey and that he is not alarmed by it.
“These are things that happen in the Cup, and they have also happened to other teams.
“At 1-3, which was a crucial goal, we then conceded a free-kick, and it was 2-3.
“They put the pressure on, and Talavera really got the bit between their teeth with their fans behind them,” he added.
The Real Madrid manager, however, maintained that his side was the better team in the first half and should have put it to bed right there.
“In the first half, we controlled the game well and took the lead, but failing to make it 0-3 left the game open, and that’s what we saw at the end.
“It was a hard-fought second half. We chased the third goal earlier and had chances to get it, but it wasn’t to be.
“It was an exciting knockout Cup tie. It’s a special competition. Objective complete and onto the next one,” he added.
Alonso then stressed that the goal always was just to progress to the next round and that it had thus been achieved on the night.
“The goal was to qualify, so I head home satisfied. We’ve lacked a little bit of consistency and an ability to perform with greater stability during games.
“We can’t afford to get complacent. We have to close games out. We have to be more mature,” he added.
On Mbappe’s goals
Mbappe scored two goals last night. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
As always, it was Kylian Mbappe who scored another brace for Real Madrid and guided the team to the win, and the manager was all praise for the forward.
“He was decisive with his two goals, because that’s what Kylian has – scoring comes easily to him.
“The third goal was crucial, and that’s why we left him on the pitch, and why he started the game.”
Real Madrid academy talent David Jimenez made his debut for the first team, starting as the right-back against Talavera, while Jorge Cestero came off the bench to make his debut in midfield. Speaking of the young debutants, Alonso said,
“I know them well from Castilla. They’re playing at an impressive level, just like Valdepenas, Thiago [Pitarch] and Joan [Martinez].
“David put in a very steady 90 minutes. He likes to get on the ball and he links up nicely.”
“Jorge is a player with immense potential that we have in Castilla. He’s improving well this year and he’s got some minutes under his belt. We know he’s not far off,” he added.
The manager also had words of praise for Endrick, who started and put on a solid show.
“He was really active, lively, changing the pace nicely and finding bursts in tight areas. You couldn’t tell he hasn’t been playing much recently. You have to congratulate him on a good performance.”
Alonso was then asked where he saw room for improvement in the team, to which he said,
“We have just one focus, which is Sevilla on Saturday. We need the three points, we want a positive feeling around the place and to close the year on a high.”
“We’ve got a break coming up to continue improving on what we have to – among those elements are consistency and an ability to extend our high levels of performance for longer spells within the game.”
Overall praise
Alonso praised the quality of his players. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The media then asked Alonso the question that is on everyone’s minds this season – is Mbappe the only effective forward in the team? To that, the manager replied,
“The numbers are what they are, but Rodrygo has scored in both of the previous two games and we need more guys who have got that clinical edge. We could certainly have scored more goals.”
Towards the end of his interview, the manager praised Talavera for the fight they put up and how close they came.
“Just as I expected. It was a really special match for them and for their fans. We walked into a fantastic atmosphere and they were really competitive and playing for pride.
“I congratulate them. They were top-notch opposition.”
Finally, he opened up on his decision to play four forwards in the starting XI for a Copa del Rey game.
“We needed players who were committed defensively. From the 10th minute, we were pretty steady in that sense, and we controlled the game well. They did just as we asked of them.”
Source: Real Madrid website
Category: General Sports
