Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso appeared at a press conference to discuss today's match against Al Hilal in the first round of the group stage of the Club World Cup.

The coach said: "We have been training here for several days. We will be in a better position, and everything will go better. We need to be aware of our positioning, maintain possession of the ball, and regain it quickly; we had a significant impact on that. I felt the players' enthusiasm after the training period ended. There are new faces, and the moment is favorable for everyone. I can say a lot now, but tomorrow will be the rock and roll moment, the moment of truth."

He added: "In these days, balance, commitment, and everyone's involvement at every stage are essential; distances and team cohesion will make things much easier for us. We will try to be as effective as possible, and we hope that by the last day of the tournament, we will be a better team than we were at the beginning of the tournament; the matches will tell us a lot, and tomorrow is the starting point. We will see where we end up in the end."

He continued: "Bellingham's position? He has the ability to cover wide areas, but he needs to start from the right position. He has the spirit of a midfielder and the quality needed to reach the penalty area; the starting point is important. Choosing the right position will help him and the team, given his important capabilities."

Regarding Kylian Mbappe's condition: "He felt a slight improvement today, but not enough to train; the weather was very hot, and it was better for him not to participate in training. We will wait until the last moment and decide tomorrow morning whether he will participate or not. Kylian is a dynamic forward, not a static one, nor the type that relies on playing in the penalty area. The idea is not to depend on static players. Because Kylian is not a true number 9, but he scores a lot of goals."

On the high temperatures and their impact on the team: "I am not worried at all; this is something I have no control over, even though it affects many. We have to accept it and adapt to it. We have to deal with it skillfully."

He added: "I felt the players' enthusiasm and vitality after a great period. There are new faces, and the reception was good. The moment is good for everyone to ignite; we need to show that on the field. The daily work is great, and the individual efficiency is enormous. Although I already knew that beforehand. Now, it’s about hard work. I appreciate and value Carlo's work; he is a successful coach. But we are now starting a new era, and that will be our way. Although I am receiving a good foundation."

On Rodrigo: "The end of the season was not easy for him, but he took some time to regain his balance. He was not with the national team either. We talked from the beginning, and I see him enthusiastic. He is a player with high quality; we exchanged thoughts, and it’s time to apply it practically."

He continued: "I talked with Ceballos, who is a very smart player, but we haven't talked deeply yet. But we talked about the team and our capabilities. I am very happy with him. Mbappe's role? We have eleven players, and we need to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction. In the last few days, we have tried to work to achieve this goal, but the road is still long.

On Al Hilal: "Simone Inzaghi did not have enough time to work, just like me, but he has a highly efficient team: Mitrovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom; they are a strong team competing in the AFC Champions League and the local league, and they have a coach who has previously reached the UEFA Champions League final. We will see what happens tomorrow. But the challenge will be very difficult; we need to prepare well because we do not know how they will play."

He continued: "There is no doubt that Madrid will always be a contender to win any tournament it participates in, but we need to prove our worth. We are not thinking about the final of the tournament; we need to take many steps to get there. But that is our goal."

On signing Franco Mastantuono: "We are happy because he is a young player with a brilliant present and a bright future. His maturity reflects off the field. I was impressed by the conversations I had with him: his ambition and maturity. Things do not come by chance. We are following him at River Plate, where he has taken steps that led him to Real Madrid. He will be very important; I cannot disclose my conversation with him (laughs)."

He continued: "I am very excited; it’s good to train and talk, but you want to see the team perform wonderfully. The match will tell us a lot. We want to win, and we will strive for it; that is the most important thing, but how we achieve it will also matter to us."

On Modric: "It is very easy to work with Modric; our relationship has always been very good. As teammates and friends, and now as a player and coach. There is enough trust to talk about it. I love seeing his impact on the young players; we want to enjoy him because he is a legendary player. Our ability to press him more, even to the last moment, will be a luxury."

Regarding the new signings: "I am very happy with the team and the new signings; Housen and Arnold are great players who do not need much training or many theories. They learn quickly. The process is ongoing, and we will start tomorrow; having Arnold and Carvajal is a privilege for any coach. Trent is more flexible, and with Carvajal, we look forward to his return. But I can say that Arnold's impact, so far, has been excellent; this issue gives me a headache."

On the importance of young players like Güler and Endrick: "Adaptation takes time; these are natural processes. In their second year, they will progress more; everything is normal."

His opinion on Vinicius: "I did not know him, but I got to know him in seconds. His personality, his way of communicating... very emotional. And you have to be close to him. I am very impressed with these players. He has a big heart; that is what I felt in these days."

On the team: "Tomorrow we will not lack the desire to win, the competition, and the desire to play well. We need to combine several things, but self-respect, team spirit, and defending the badge... the team already possesses them, but we need to work hard to achieve them. We need to be one team."

He concluded: "Was I surprised by the level of Brazilian clubs? No, they play at a very high level. They will be strong competitors. They prove that every time they participate in global tournaments... and this is something new for everyone. The World Cup for national teams is a huge tournament, but now we can make this tournament bigger, a tournament that unites the entire football world. Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Austria; it is a tournament with great appeal because we focus on Europe and think it only represents that, but we are completely wrong; there are very strong teams abroad. And these days prove the worth of this tournament.