🎙 Squad complete for Xabi Alonso? He says he’s counting on everyone here | OneFootball

In the pre-season press conference, Xabi Alonso defended the unity of his squad and sent a clear message to LaLiga regarding the management of match schedules.

Alonso made it clear that he counts on all his players and that the key to the team's success lies in the total commitment of each one. "I count on everyone we have. We need everyone to be at one hundred percent. Right now, I count on everyone", stated the coach.

This message of confidence extends to the new signings, such as the young Franco Mastantuono, whom Alonso was pleasantly surprised by. "I was surprised by Mastantuono's personality. He had a lot of self-confidence, he wasn't afraid. He was a 17-year-old man. It is clear that he will integrate very well into the dynamics of the locker room and the game", he highlighted.

However, the most forceful part of his statements focused on LaLiga's decision not to postpone the match against Osasuna despite the high temperatures. Xabi Alonso reiterated that the club's request was made with the players' health in mind. "Our request was for the health of the players. It would have been nice to receive that support. We must not look for excuses. We are going to play and compete", he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 JAVIER SORIANO - AFP or licensors