Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso expressed his satisfaction following the 5-1 victory over Betis in the 18th round of the Spanish league, in the match held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The Spanish coach said: "It was an important and well-deserved win to start the year on our home ground. It’s important to begin this way: calmly and with high morale before the Super Cup. I appreciate this victory in the context of the league. Barcelona won yesterday, and we have to win many matches. This was the last match of the first half of the season, and we have earned 45 points. This will bring our total to 90 points in the league. We must win many of the remaining matches; the competition will be fierce in the coming period. Starting tomorrow, we will focus solely on the Super Cup."

He added about Gonzalo García's performance: "It was a dream match for him. Playing at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, in his first season with the first team, and scoring a hat-trick. He was eager to score in this stadium, and I am happy for him and his daily efforts, both on and off the field. His attitude is impressive, and he is a great example of what it means to be a graduate of the Real Madrid youth academy. I congratulate him on his performance and the hat-trick, and I encourage him to continue shining like this."

He emphasized: "Football requires teamwork, both with and without the ball. The forwards initiate the pressing, defend with high pressure, and manage the pressing at certain moments... Gonzalo understands this very well. He is a highly offensive player, with excellent acceleration, great pressing ability, and most importantly, a strong scoring instinct. When you combine this scoring ability with defensive capability, it greatly improves the team's defensive balance."

Regarding the fact that the five goals were scored by academy players: "This is an amazing statistic. The fact that all five goals were scored by academy players is very encouraging, thanks to their hard work and because they always show their best in crucial moments. Those who deserve the opportunity get it. This is football, and the pitch can determine your fate. When you perform well, it’s because you worked hard and demonstrated great sportsmanship."

He continued: "Do you have a spot for all the attackers? This is my decision. There are many matches ahead, and we will see what the situation and needs are. We cannot rule out anything."

About Vinicius Junior: "He contributed a lot. He entered the field brilliantly. He was very disruptive, especially in the first half. He is persistent and contributes to the team. I liked his performance, everything he gave us, and he will play a decisive role. Now we face Atletico in the Super Cup, and this will be a very important match. He is a mature player, and we are all here to support each other. We want to give our best effort, both as a team and as individuals. He is a key player for Real Madrid and will remain so. I am sure the Bernabeu fans will applaud him. There is no doubt about that."

He explained: "We need everyone, especially Eduardo Camavinga because of the injuries. He has been in and out of the team and hasn't been able to maintain consistent performance in training and matches to continue developing. We hope he returns to his usual level because we know his quality, energy, and vitality. It's difficult to stop him once he gets going, and he is capable of breaking through defenses. We need balance. Rodrigo can play in all three attacking positions, and the more coordination there is between us and him, the better the team's performance. We need him at his best, and he played a complete match. We are only at the beginning of the season."

Regarding Kylian Mbappé's condition: "He has not been completely ruled out, and we will wait to see how he is doing until Tuesday when we travel to Saudi Arabia. We will make the decision then. We are still considering all options."

Regarding Tchouaméni's replacement, who suffered from discomfort: "He will definitely travel to Saudi Arabia."

He concluded about Thibaut Courtois: "The goalkeeper's contribution is extremely important, and he is keen to better understand how to build attacks from the back. We need to utilize him as a key player. He has good foot skills, a deep understanding of the game, and we can use him as a free-moving player. He enjoys that, and we work with him a lot on this aspect."