Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has urged his players to avoid overconfidence before their La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid this Saturday. Despite a perfect start to the season, with Real Madrid sitting two points clear at the top of the league, Alonso emphasized that the game against their city rivals would not be straightforward. Atletico, who are struggling in ninth place, are always a formidable opponent in the Madrid derby, and Alonso believes that every game presents its own challenges.
“Every game is very difficult to win… we cannot be overconfident,” Alonso said in a press conference. “We have to stay grounded, stay consistent in our performance. Just by walking onto the pitch doesn’t guarantee a win. The more we work at staying active, the more games we will win.”
This will be Alonso’s first encounter with Atletico as a manager, and he knows the importance of keeping a cool head. His side has dominated so far this season, but he warned that the intensity of the derby could produce unpredictable results. Alonso’s advice was clear: Real Madrid must remain focused on their performance and avoid underestimating their opponents, no matter their league position.
Alonso also took time to praise Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone, whose long tenure at the club has been a subject of admiration. Simeone has been at Atletico since 2011, leading them to numerous trophies, including La Liga titles and a Champions League final. Alonso, who is just beginning his managerial career, acknowledged the scale of Simeone’s achievements and admitted he was not setting long-term goals for himself at Real Madrid just yet.
Simeone, meanwhile, acknowledged that his side had been underperforming but remained determined ahead of the derby. He highlighted Madrid’s strength under Alonso and pointed to their collective play as a key factor in their perfect start to the season. Simeone also noted that Atletico would have one less day of rest than Real Madrid, which could influence their performance.
The atmosphere at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium is expected to be intense, but Alonso indicated he would not shy away from starting players who had not experienced a Madrid derby before. “There’s always a first time for everything,” Alonso said, emphasizing that his squad would need all their available players to cope with the pressure of the match. Both teams are prepared for a fierce battle, with midfield battles and quick transitions expected to be crucial.
