Xabi Alonso: 'We're Still in a Phase of Development'

Alonso urges Real Madrid to learn from 5-2 derby defeat

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso called on his team to learn from their 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid on Saturday, a result he described as both painful and deserved.

“We lacked intensity and focus. How to counteract this better. We had an idea but we need to evaluate it further...”

Xabi Alonso described Real Madrid's 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid as a “painful” and “deserved” defeat. He acknowledged that his team fell short of their usual standards, admitting, “We didn't start well, and we lacked a gear. We were too much like losers. The game didn't flow. It was a bad match overall, a deserved defeat.”

 

The loss was Real's first defeat of the LaLiga season and the first time in 75 years that Atletico have scored five goals against their city rivals.

Alonso, speaking to reporters, admitted that his side had fallen short of their usual standards.

“We didn't start well, but this is ongoing. We must draw conclusions, because this is ongoing. It's a deserved defeat... we lacked a gear. A defeat that hurts, yes,” he said.

Despite the heavy defeat, Xabi Alonso believes the loss could have a silver lining, allowing his team to learn and grow from the experience.

💬 @XabiAlonso: "It's our first defeat and we're all hurting"
🎙️ Press conference ➡️ RM Play

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 27, 2025

“Perhaps it will be beneficial for the future. We didn't start well in the duels, in the ball to space. We were too much like losers. The game didn't flow. A bad match overall, a deserved defeat,” he acknowledged.

“The explanation is that we did not perform at our usual level. And it has to hurt, but it has to be a pain that we use positively.

“We lacked intensity and focus. How to counteract this better. We had an idea but we need to evaluate it further. We didn't compete enough, not at the level required for these matches, against these opponents. And we'll have to raise it.”

Xabi Alonso expressed frustration with his team's performance, stating, “I could see that we weren't playing at our best and that we lacked rhythm and intensity.” He acknowledged that Real Madrid fell short of their usual standards, leading to a deserved 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid.

🏁 FT: @AtletiEnglish 5-2 @RealMadridEN
⚽ 14' Le Normand
⚽ 25' @KMbappe
⚽ 37' @10ArdaGuler
⚽ 45'+3' Sørloth
⚽ 52' Julián Álvarez (p)
⚽ 64' Julián Álvarez
⚽ 90'+3' Griezmann
👉 @Emirates pic.twitter.com/AJxWruBivh

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 27, 2025

 

Message to the Fans

Alonso urged fans to remain patient and resilient, recognizing that Real Madrid is still in a development phase under his leadership. Since taking over in May, Alonso has emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks and using them as opportunities for growth. He encouraged supporters to stay committed to the team, highlighting that progress takes time and setbacks are part of the journey.

“As part of the process of progress and development, there are going to be tough days. How we react is what matters. We're still in a phase of development,” he said.

Real Madrid still tops the LaLiga standings with 18 points, but Barcelona is closing in with 16 points and a game in hand. Should Barcelona win their upcoming match against Real Sociedad, they could potentially take the lead. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid jumps to fourth place with 12 points after their impressive 5-2 win over Real Madrid.

Next Steps for Real Madrid

Real Madrid will now focus on their upcoming match against Kairat in the Champions League. Alonso's priority is to analyze the team's performance, identify areas for improvement, and work on correcting their mistakes to move forward positively.