Atlético Madrid lost 1-2 to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals and missed out on the final. Xabi Alonso attended the post-match press conference.
Q: How do you assess this match? Do you think the result was fair?
A: It was a very tight contest. Valverde’s goal gave us the upper hand and changed the game a little. We didn’t face too much pressure in the first half. As a semi-final, the game had its ups and downs, but this team knows how to compete. It was a high-intensity, fiercely contested match. After going 1-2 up, we had to make adjustments, steady the ship and absorb the pressure. This is the path to Sunday’s title, and we have reached the final.
Q: Are you satisfied?
A: Yes, very satisfied. The goal was to reach the final against a very strong opponent. We haven’t forgotten the first league meeting between the two sides. What we needed was: energy, physicality, tackles...
Q: What do you make of the incident with Simeone?
A: I always try to respect the opposing team’s players and usually don’t speak directly to them. After seeing what he said, I liked it even less. That’s not an example of good sportsmanship. Not everything is acceptable, and you have to respect your opponents. There are boundaries to everything that happens on the pitch.
Q: Were the substitutions made because of the weather or injuries?
A: Rüdiger had restrictions with his knee and couldn’t continue; Asensio was also under strain, so we needed to rotate in the defensive line. Fran and Ferran put in good performances after coming on, and the double pivot allowed us to complete more passes. We will continue to monitor the situation tomorrow to prepare for Sunday and see if we can welcome back more injured players.
Q: How important was that goal for Valverde?
A: Fede put in a fantastic performance. Whether it was the goal, the assists, or what he brought to the team—link-up play with teammates, defensive intensity. He has that winning mentality. Scoring goals isn’t the most important thing for him, but it will give him a boost of energy. It was a typical Valverde goal, a thunderous strike.
Q: What is the latest on Mbappé?
A: He will set off tomorrow, and then we will see if he is fit to play.
Q: Courtois made a lot of long balls when distributing possession...
A: In some situations, we did lack a bit of patience to connect passes and build up more effectively, but we have also discussed that we don’t always need to start with short passes.
Q: What kind of condition will Mbappé be in when he rejoins the squad? What are his chances of playing?
A: He has improved a lot, has already joined training, and is feeling good. His chance of being available for selection is the same as that of every other player.
Q: Can this match serve as a reference for beating Barcelona? Will Mbappé play?
A: It will be a different game. Mbappé is joining the squad tomorrow, and the match will be different.
