Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso appeared at a press conference to discuss the match against Juventus in the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup, this Tuesday evening.

The coach said: "In every World Cup, after passing the group stage, the decisive matches come, where it’s about winning or losing. We are playing against a great European giant like Juventus, which will require a lot from us in terms of performance, mentality, and focus. We have been preparing for it for two days, and everything is ready for tomorrow; it’s a very important match. It’s a different tournament, and we know how decisive it can be. Facing Juventus is not our first important test; it’s just an extremely important match."

He added: "Mbappe is fine. We talk to him daily, and he feels much better. We will talk again tomorrow to make the final decision about his participation. There is a high possibility that he will be able to play."

Regarding David Ancelotti's statement that he is the second-best coach in the world: "We have a very good relationship; we shared two stages at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. I would like to thank him; I don’t know where I am now, but I know I am where I want to be. Carlo's career, compared to mine, is much broader. I take on this responsibility with great honor and pride. We start from the era of Ancelotti, David, Francesco, and everyone who was there. Time will show us that."

On the role of academy players: "Our first idea is to win matches. The selection of players and how we select them depends on the resources available to us, whether in the first team or in Castilla, who provide us with great support and have a high level of efficiency. The Real Madrid youth system has always included players who have performed at a high competitive level. They need to be given the opportunity. Gonzalo is doing well, just as Asensio did when Ancelotti gave him the chance. There will be other players in the future. They must be given their spaces, even though Real Madrid is a very demanding team that forces you to win."

He continued: "Rodrigo? After the match, I try to communicate with everyone I encounter during the match. He played important minutes and will definitely be an important player. In these tournaments, starting players can be as important as substitutes; they can have a decisive impact, so every player must be ready for anything they might face. Everyone is in good spirits. Rodrygo is training well, and I see him in good spirits. At that point, the decision is mine to choose who plays."

He added: "Carvajal and Militao will join the call-up list after a long recovery period. That will be a positive addition for both them and the team, as they will feel closer. The players and those around them play a crucial role. When they sit on the bench, experience the atmosphere of the match, and support each other, this communication emerges, and that is very important. Their competitive level will require more minutes, but once they regain their fitness, they will be key elements in the upcoming season."

On his tactical plans: "The first thing I mentioned is the necessity of maintaining distance between us; the closer we play, with and without the ball, the easier it is for us to control the pressure. There must be cohesion. The fighting spirit is essential, as is organization. When these two factors come together, the team is better defensively."

Regarding the use of drones in training: "Using the drone, we try to capture training from a different perspective, in terms of tactical work and movement, as we do not have the fixed cameras we usually use in Valdebebas. This is what we did in Leverkusen, and we brought it here. Many clubs do this; I don’t think we are pioneers in this field, but we are indeed using it."

About the possibility of facing Ramos in the quarter-finals: "First, we have to win tomorrow, and I hope to give you a more detailed answer. We have played many matches together, and we have a wonderful friendship. I am happy that he is still performing well at his age and that he has the energy and desire to keep playing. I hope we meet in the quarter-finals."

He continued: "We have faced many challenges. We knew we would be ready, but the competition is fierce, and the deadlines are very tight, making it difficult to start and lay the foundation. We spend a long time together, which allows us to strengthen our relationships, and that is crucial. We want to put on a show tomorrow."

On playing in the afternoon: "We will try to arrive at the match in better condition. We only played against Al-Hilal a few days ago, and the adaptation was not ideal. After about two weeks, the adaptation has improved. We monitor our hydration levels, which are very important. We are not used to playing at three in the afternoon in the heat and humidity. If it’s cloudy, we will appreciate that; if not, we will play with the energy we have."

He added: "This is my third week since we started, and I am happy and excited. This reminds me, in many ways, of the training camps I went through as a player, as many people in the club have not changed, but now in different roles. The role of organizing, decision-making, and preparation. But many things do not change. It’s about managing players and people and building relationships and trust bonds that allow you to build for the future. Spending a lot of time together enables us to accelerate that. We have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with them. When it’s over, we will take some time, as in any relationship, and we will meet again when we return. Building things is better without imposing them. I feel comfortable."

On his work within the team: "This tournament is somewhat different from what we will present this season. It’s a fast-paced tournament. Now we start the knockout stage, and the context is different regarding the allocation of minutes or workloads. We need to deliver a more enthusiastic performance in every match. We are already in the preparation phase and getting to know each other better. Day by day, we will lay the foundations for our launch in August."

About Juventus: "They are a very strong team. They have clear ideas, great collective and individual skills. They have top-class players. We are sure we will face a strong opponent and a strong team. We will not evaluate Juventus based on their last match against Man City; it’s a different match. We will be ready for that; we are focused on qualifying. It’s a very fierce competition."

About the Club World Cup: "We have passed the group stage, and now we are only focused on Juventus. We appreciate the World Cup; it is gaining momentum and importance, and we have a big match. Football fans are drawn to this tournament, and we are extremely focused.

About Fede Valverde: "I see him playing in many positions, just like Steven Gerrard in his days. Thanks to our nature and the balance we need, he can achieve that by starting from a slightly lower height. He has the ability to accelerate and cross lines very easily. Currently, we are using him well in this aspect, but we know his capabilities. What stands out the most is not receiving the ball with his back to the goal and turning, but seeing the game face-to-face. He has scored two goals and has the ability to accelerate and get closer to the penalty area."

About his position as a coach: "When I finished my career with Leverkusen after three years, with almost the same team, we understood each other well on some matters only. Now, perhaps in many matters, we do not understand each other as quickly. It takes longer to absorb the methods or concepts. Our understanding will become more dynamic. Individual efficiency is present, and we need to enhance it with collective efficiency. We are at the World Cup, and the competition is extremely tough, but we want to continue building on this foundation; it’s too early to analyze my feelings. I feel a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. This gives me the energy to continue. This stage presents us with significant challenges. We will play against a European team, but there are wonderful teams."

About Arnold: "He can play in different systems and positions. In the Pachuca match, when he played almost the entire match with ten players, the context was different. I read the data and analyze it, but I also put it in the right context. He is at the beginning of his career. Although he is a world-class player, change takes time. He is adapting well; we are happy with him."

Regarding South American teams: "I have always been impressed by Argentine teams; I haven’t watched Boca Juniors much, but I have watched River Plate a lot. Even though they did not reach the Round of 16, they competed strongly against Inter. The red card was the conclusion of the match. With the Brazilians, you can feel how important the World Cup is to them, both for them and for their fans. They have enthusiasm that gives them an extra morale boost. Flamengo played well against Bayern Munich. Fluminense has already qualified for the quarter-finals, as has Palmeiras. That’s good news. We watch more European football matches due to the match schedules, but we also see great achievements being made abroad."

About the duo of Mbappe and Vinicius Junior: "Our goal is to exploit collective play. We all have to work as one team, and all eleven players are committed at all stages and in what we want to do with the ball and without it. Then individual quality will benefit. This is where the role of the forwards comes in to create that difference. They are the unbalanced players who need to do something different in the final third of the field. It’s hard for me to teach Mbappe to dribble, but we can focus on how to achieve that."

He concluded: "Mbappe is a leader with his influence and impact. We all need to commit to the collective idea. We all need to enjoy what we do, whether we have the ball or not. Those on the field must do that. Kylian, Hausen, Tchouameni, Ceballos... the demands are the same for all players."