Real Madrid manager defends his red-carded player and hails his squad’s “generous sacrifice” to secure a tough win against his former club.
In an emotional return to the Reale Arena, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso praised his team’s resilience after they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over his former club, Real Sociedad, despite playing for over an hour with ten men.
The match’s pivotal moment came in the 32nd minute when defender Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card for a foul on Mikel Oyarzabal. Alonso was unequivocal in his disagreement with the decision, stating, “For me, it was a yellow card… I asked [the referee], he gave me his explanation, and I wasn’t convinced.” He acknowledged the sending-off “changed the context of the match completely,” forcing his team into a defensive battle.
Despite the setback, Alonso was full of praise for his players’ character. “The players have been generous in their sacrifice,” he said. “Winning at Anoeta is always very difficult, and today, if anything, it was even more difficult.” He admitted his team “sank too low” at one point in the second half but was encouraged by their ability to recover and hold on for the three points.
When asked about the VAR’s role in the red card decision, Alonso was measured, saying, “When there are obvious mistakes, I like VAR to intervene, but when there aren’t, I understand that it shouldn’t.” He added, “I don’t want to make the referee a recurring theme. It’s time to move on.”
The victory was made sweeter by a heartfelt tribute paid to former Real Sociedad and Real Madrid manager John Toshack before kickoff, a moment Alonso described as deeply touching. “It was emotional because of what Toshack means to me,” he shared. “He was the first person who gave me the confidence to be a footballer.”
Looking ahead, Alonso emphasized the importance of his entire squad as the fixture list becomes congested, affirming that every player is ready and will be needed. While happy with the result, he insisted the team cannot be complacent, concluding, “We’re happy, but we can’t take anything for granted. There’s room for improvement. We have to keep building.”
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