Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso appeared in a press conference after the 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals of the Club World Cup.

The coach said: "The start was difficult after the first ten minutes. Paris Saint-Germain is a project that has been built over time, while we are starting a new phase. Boldness does not always mean an advantage. We conceded two early goals that disrupted our plans, and we were not present on the field. We had to hold our ground, but unfortunately, we conceded the third goal before the end of the first half. We suffered against a team at their best, while we are at the beginning of our project. Today was painful, and we did not deliver the required level. This match will provide us with useful lessons for the future to compete better. This is our last stop, and the farewell is painful."

He added: "Falling behind 2-0 early changes everything. We wanted a balanced match, but things went differently. The real gap is not between the two teams, but in the space we need to improve. This is the end of the season, not the beginning. Despite everything, we exited the tournament as a better team. What happened today will be a starting point for a better season. I am talking about the team in general, not specific players. We saw some weaknesses today, and sometimes it's good to see them to avoid repeating them. Repeating the mistake will not be wise."

He emphasized: "I leave the tournament with clear convictions; this tournament showed me a lot about what we have and what we need. Next season will see changes and the return of players; we will start anew with more clarity. Our goal is to build a team that plays as a cohesive unit, with everyone participating effectively."

Regarding the delay in substitutions: "I wanted to be cautious; in the second half, we changed the pressure from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 with Gonzalo on the left side. I will evaluate my decisions myself, and I am always self-critical. We work as a team, and the end of the season should not affect the beginning of the new season. We will start next season from scratch, not from where we ended today."

About Luka Modric: "It was not the ending we wanted for him, a bitter end, but he will not be remembered for this match, but for many great matches. He is a legend in world football and at Real Madrid, and he will be remembered for what he has given throughout his career, not just for 25 minutes today."

On his plan and high pressing: "It was not the result we expected. This is the first loss, and it will not be the last. Those who think they will not lose are mistaken. Now we start a necessary break for everyone. We should not forget what happened today, but we must not let the loss drown us."

About Paris's third goal: "The third goal made things more difficult. The problem was not just in the pressing, but also in the fluidity of play. There is a lot to learn from this."

He elaborated on Rodrigo's absence: "The decisions were specific to the flow of the match. We needed a different type of player. It was not a decision for the future. We did not rely much on rotation in this tournament, but the situation will be different later."

He added: "Paris Saint-Germain has been playing together for years, and they are at their peak. We are not the first to lose to them. Playing against them is difficult, and we must acknowledge their current superiority."

He concluded regarding new signings in the current transfer market: "We did not talk during the tournament about reinforcements, but from now on, we are open to improvement. Our constant goal is development, and there is room for that."