Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso appeared at the press conference at El Prado Stadium following the 3-2 victory over Talavera in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.

The coach said about the result: "These things happen in the cup, and they have happened to other teams as well. When the score was 1-3, the third goal was important, but we made a mistake, then it became 2-3. They pressed hard, Talavera regained control, and so did their fans."

He added: "In the first half, we controlled the game well and took the lead, but not scoring the third goal kept the match open, and it remained that way until the end. The second half was balanced. We tried to score the third goal early and had chances, but it wasn't meant to be. It was an exciting cup match. It's a special tournament. We achieved our goal, and now we will see what happens in the next match."

He continued, "The goal was to qualify, so I am satisfied. We lacked some consistency and needed more reliability in our performance throughout the matches. We must not assume that anything can happen to us and be content with just winning the games. We need to be more mature."

About Kylian Mbappé: "He was decisive by scoring the two goals because Kylian has a talent for scoring. The third goal was crucial, which is why we kept him on the field and why he started the match as a starter."

Regarding the first appearances of David Jiménez and Cestero: "I know them well from Castilla. They both play at a high level, like Valdés, Thiago, and Juan. David delivered a strong performance throughout the ninety minutes. He is good with the ball and coordinates well with his teammates. Jorge is a very promising player we have in Castilla. He has improved this year and played some minutes today. We know he is close to joining the first team."

He continued: "Indrik was very active, full of energy, with rapid changes in speed and noticeable acceleration in tight spaces. His absence from the field was impossible to miss. We have to congratulate him because he delivered an outstanding performance."

He explained: "We have one goal, which is to face Sevilla on Saturday. We need the three points and aim to achieve a positive result and a strong finish to the year. We will take a break to continue improving what we need to improve, including consistency and maintaining this high level of performance for longer periods."

And whether the team lacks effectiveness, except for Mbappé: "Numbers are numbers, but Rodrygo scored in the previous two matches, and we need more players with this kind of effectiveness in front of the goal. We could have scored more goals, without a doubt."

He noted: "I expected the match to be like this. It is a very special match for them and for their fans as well. We found a great atmosphere, and they played with a high competitive spirit and great pride. I congratulate them because they were a strong opponent."

He concluded about involving four forwards in the lineup: "We also needed players who were committed defensively. From the tenth minute onwards, we were defensively solid and controlled the match well. They executed what we asked of them."