Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso expressed his disappointment with his team’s crushing 5-2 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, but considered it an ideal opportunity to learn and improve.
The defeat to the Rojiblancos was Real Madrid’s first this season in all competitions, snapping a seven-match winning streak in La Liga and the Champions League.
Regarding the heavy defeat, Alonso said, “Today is our first defeat, and the pain of the defeat will continue. We have to learn from this defeat because it will certainly benefit us in the future.”
He added, “It was a bad match. We didn’t start well and didn’t play well, whether collectively or in terms of the quality of our play with or without the ball.”
He continued, “There are no excuses. We are hurting, and so are the fans. It was a derby match and a deserved defeat. We weren’t present and lacked some enthusiasm.”
He concluded, “I don’t blame the referees for anything today. What happened today was independent of the referees or any other decision. It was a deserved defeat.”
If Barcelona wins tomorrow against Real Sociedad, the Catalan club will move one point ahead of Real Madrid, with Alonso’s side currently on 18 points, compared to the Blaugrana’s current tally of 16.
