Alonso talks Huijsen, Courtois, Gonzalo, Fran, Mbappe, PSG after Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund | OneFootball

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso was honest after the tight 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. He admitted the game was a bit too tense at the end, saying, “Maybe it’s good that we stay on our toes for the next match.”

His focus is now fully on the big semi-final against PSG, which he called a “great game” that everyone is excited for.

Alonso shared that his team had the match under control until the 80th minute. “We were solid with and without the ball. But after our third goal, things got messy for a couple of minutes,” he said.

Luckily for Real Madrid, they still secured their spot in the semi-finals, which brought a smile to Alonso’s face.

On Huijsen’s red card

When asked about Dean Huijsen’s red card, Alonso admitted he had not decided how it would affect their preparations. “I’ll think about it later, maybe on the plane. But it’s not good news,” he noted.

Fran Garcia earned praise as the best player on the pitch. “He was brilliant, very focused, and showed perfect timing.

“He took advantage of the space Vini created and scored because he pushed forward at the right time,” Alonso explained. He added that García’s attitude has been excellent.

On TAA, Gonzalo, Mbappe

Gonzalo Garcia scored his fourth goal of the competition. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Alonso also talked about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance. “He’s only been here three weeks after 15 years at Liverpool. He’s still adapting. He had a solid first half and is learning fast. We’re supporting him every day,” said Alonso.

He praised Gonzalo Garcia, who keeps scoring important goals. “He knows where to be and when to finish. He’s proving he’s a real goalscorer,” he stated.

Speaking about Kylian Mbappe, Alonso said, “He’s looking good, but not quite at 100 percent yet. He’ll get better, and we hope he feels perfect for the semi-final.”

On Courtois and facing PSG

On goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Alonso couldn’t hide his appreciation. “Courtois is incredible. That last save was huge.

“Having him gives us so much confidence. He’s the kind of player who wins you games.”

Finally, Alonso shared his excitement about facing PSG. “It’s going to be a huge test.

“They’ve been in great form since the Champions League round of 16. It will be tough, but we’re growing as a team and ready for the challenge.”

Source: AS