Sport
“We Lacked a Lot” – Alonso Speaks on Madrid’s 1-1 Draw Against Al Hilal
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has opened up about why his team couldn’t secure a win against Al Hilal in their FIFA Club World Cup opener on Wednesday. The Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States, with Gonzalo Garcia and Ruben Neves each finding the net for their respective sides.
After the match, Alonso admitted that Madrid’s display fell short, pointing out several issues both in possession and without the ball. He highlighted the need for more composure and better structure during the game. “We were missing a lot, especially in the first half,” Alonso said. “On and off the ball, things weren’t clicking.”
He revealed that during the break, he urged his players to slow things down and stop forcing plays. While the second half showed some improvement, Alonso admitted it still wasn’t good enough. “What we need is better balance with the ball,” he explained. “We had more control in the second half, kept the ball longer, and got closer to their goal, but it still wasn’t where we need to be.”
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
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