Actual Madrid coach Xabi Alonso refused to be drawn on feedback from Lamine Yamal forward of the Clásico, after the Barcelona star joked that Madrid “rob and complain.”
Yamal was talking in a YouTube interview selling Gerard Piqué’s Kings League — the place he now president of a crew — and made the feedback when requested if a league rival behaved equally to Madrid.
Madrid go into Sunday’s match on the Santiago Bernabéu two factors away from Barça, with 9 video games performed.
“It is an vital sufficient sport,” Alonso mentioned in a information convention on Saturday when requested about Yamal. “It has a variety of substances… The vital factor is what occurs on the pitch, and what we’ve forward of us tomorrow, and the way we need to play. That is what most issues me.”
Barça assistant coach Marcus Sorg — talking with Hansi Flick suspended — additionally performed down the feedback.
“Lamine is a high participant, and I feel it will likely be motivating for him,” Sorg mentioned on Saturday. “We hope we see him tomorrow giving his greatest efficiency.”
Madrid misplaced all 4 Clásicos final season — two in LaLiga, and one every within the Supercopa and the Copa del Rey — together with a 4-0 defeat on the Bernabéu.
“We have analysed them,” Alonso mentioned. “However the second is completely different for them and us, it is a completely different mission, we’re simply beginning. We have analysed it. We need to play to our strengths.”
In Alonso’s two most high-profile video games to this point, the Membership World Cup semifinal in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain and the derby with Atletico Madrid, Actual have suffered heavy losses.
“I do not like simply to take a look at outcomes however the course of,” Alonso mentioned. “It has been 12 video games, there’s been development, there’s room to enhance, however we’re virtually in November. No trophies are given out but. There’s a variety of season left.”
Defenders Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal — who’ve been absent by way of harm — all took half in coaching on Saturday.
“I’ve [the XI] in my head,” Alonso mentioned. “We have got virtually all of the gamers again who could not play in opposition to Juventus [in midweek], and tomorrow you may see.”
– Clásico mixed XI: Which gamers make the lower?
– Supply: Barcelona’s Raphinha to overlook Clásico
– O’Hanlon: Spain’s Clasico has a brand new star battle: Mbappé vs. Yamal
– El Clásico is right here! Head-to-head, kind, key clashes, predictions, odds
Champions Barça completed 4 factors forward of Madrid final season, as they accomplished a home treble.
Madrid have received eight out of 9 video games in LaLiga this marketing campaign — and all three Champions League matches — with their solely defeat being 5-2 to Atletico.
Barcelona misplaced back-to-back video games earlier this month, in opposition to PSG and Sevilla, however have since bounced again with two wins within the final week.
Info from ESPN’s Sam Marsden contributed to this report.
