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Last season, Carlo Ancelotti had said he isn’t concerned if Kylian Mbappe pressed or not and wanted the striker to focus on goalscoring.
Real Madrid face Salzburg in Philadelphia on Thursday. (AFP Photo)
New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has warned his star players, including Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, that they must all contribute defensively. Last season, under Carlo Ancelotti, Los Blancos failed to secure a major trophy, partly due to the forward line’s reluctance to work hard for the team, which frustrated the Italian coach.
“What I am certain of is that we need and want everyone to defend — the 11 players on the pitch have to be involved defensively,” Alonso stated in a news conference ahead of Madrid’s Club World Cup clash against RB Salzburg.
“They have to get close together, they have to know how we want to press, and without that, things will be very complicated. Vini, Jude (Bellingham), Fede (Valverde), Kylian, those up front, the defence has to push forward too.”
Last season, Ancelotti mentioned that he was not concerned if Mbappe pressed or not and wanted the striker to focus on goalscoring. The 26-year-old scored 43 goals in all competitions during his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu after moving from Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid will face Austrian side Salzburg in Philadelphia on Thursday, aiming to secure the top spot in their final Group H match, but they will be without Mbappe. The French superstar was not included in the squad as he continues to recover from a stomach bug. Mbappe missed the first two matches but returned to training on Wednesday.
“I was happy to see him on the (training) pitch, it was the first day he’s got his boots back on and has been running, he’s doing well, but not enough to play tomorrow with the level that we need,” said Alonso. “He said it himself when we spoke after training, he prefers to be ready for the last 16, he’s in the recovery process, he wasn’t perfect for tomorrow.”
In Madrid’s second match, a 3-1 win over Mexican side Pachuca, Brazilian forward Rodrygo was left on the bench, amid speculation he might leave the club this summer. However, Alonso confirmed that the Brazilian remains a crucial member of the team.
“He’s doing well, he’s enthusiastic, it was a technical decision (to bench him) the other day, but Rodrygo is still an important player, we will need him in this Club World Cup,” said Alonso. “He’s a special player and he will have a big role at this tournament.”
With AFP Inputs
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A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports
- Location :
Philadelphia (USA)
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