Real Madrid's coach, Xabi Alonso, appeared at a press conference following the 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the sixth round of the Champions League group stage, held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The coach said: "It was a tough and fluctuating match. We started well with Rodrigo's goal and some other chances, but within just ten minutes, and not being in our best mental state, City took the lead with a goal from a corner kick and another from a penalty. The team kept trying until the end and never lost focus despite all the difficulties we are facing, such as injuries."

He added: "The players gave everything they had, and I have nothing to criticize today. I am very grateful for the mentality they showed. We have to keep going; this is the Champions League. The current situation with the results is not what we want. We are evaluating ourselves strictly and understand how people feel. We have to keep working, and I am confident that we can recover."

He emphasized: "Our goal is to be more consistent in performance regardless of the opponent. This is a Champions League match against a very strong team, but we put in enough effort to secure a draw, and anything could have happened. The team was focused, played quickly, tried until the end, and gave their all. We need to concentrate on what we have now."

He added: "Was this match a turning point? Time will tell. The result is still fresh, but the team tried, and there were periods when we played well. The desire to compete and play for the match, even though it was the Champions League, was positive."

Regarding the boos: "This is normal. It's not new. Nothing unusual happens when you don't win on your home ground. There have been times when the fans supported and motivated the team, giving us the energy that people thought we needed. We can understand the boos and should accept them calmly because the level of demands here is absolute. We want to turn the current situation around, restore the mental and physical condition, and bring back injured players. What seems like this today can change quickly. Results are results, and interpretation is something else."

Regarding his psychological state: "It's not new for coaches to deal with such matters. As a coach of Real Madrid, you must be prepared to face them with firmness, responsibility, and self-criticism, knowing that things can change. Despite the result, I saw positive aspects both individually and collectively, and some things didn’t go as they should, but we are here."

He added, "Did you speak with the president after the defeat? We haven't met with him yet; he had interviews, and I came straight here."

He continued about Indrik: "He had a good impact. The match required a player who brings energy and vitality, and that was good news. We talked about his condition yesterday, and he was close to scoring."

About Rodrigo: "I liked his performance. The goal was a result of what he did well—showing his individual quality and skill in overcoming the opponent, in addition to scoring, which was important for him. We know his quality, and I feel the support among the players. We are together every day preparing for matches, and I love this closeness between us. The hug and the goal were positive; he made a difference, and I am very happy for him. He will continue to improve."

Regarding the upcoming match against Alavés: "Our preparation for every game is to compete in the best possible way, and we want to play with technical, physical, and mental quality. Today, it is essential to maintain a high intensity of performance against a good team, and we are aware of that."

He concluded about Kylian Mbappé's condition: "It is too early to know if he will play on Sunday. We have to take it day by day, and today he was not ready to play, and if he had been ready, he would have played. We miss him, but we have enough opportunities to score the second goal."