Alonso: Bellingham has the ability to cover a large area Mbappe is not a typical No. 9 position

June 18th at 3:00 am on June 19th, in the first round of Group H of the Club World Cup group stage, Real Madrid will face Riyadh Crescent. Before the game, Real Madrid coach Xavi Alonso attended the press conference and talked about some of the current situation of the team.

What needs to be improved most?

-We have been here for a few days, and the players are gradually returning, including national team players. I think the key is distance and position, which can make us better, understand our position, adjust our position, and become a more "unity" team.

Where do you want Bellingham to play?

- He has the ability to cover a large area, but he needs to start at the right place. He has the soul of a midfielder, loves to create opportunities and has offensive abilities, and we've discussed where he started, but he's very dynamic.

Ancelotti often mentions "the commitment on the defensive end". How important is this to you?

-Today, it is crucial to maintain balance. You have to invest, and everyone has to participate in all stages. I hope the team is united, we've discussed it because it will make things easier. I believe that on the last day of the tournament, we will be better than the team we started because we will keep correcting some of the problems. Tomorrow is the starting point, and we will wait and see the final result.

Have you "ignited" the passion of the players?

- You have to ask them this question, I feel that after a wonderful period, they are full of desire and excitement. The team has a new face and the response is also very good. It's good for everyone now, as for "ignition"... we have to show it on the court, and the rock season is about to begin tomorrow.

What is the situation with Mbappe? How were the injuries of others?

- Mbappe felt better this morning, but not enough. It's very hot, so it's better for him not to train. But we will wait until the last moment and decide tomorrow morning. As for the others... they all desire, but at different stages. Rudiger has put in a huge effort this season, and I don't know if he will be on the team tomorrow, but he recovers well and will be the first to return, and it will take some time for everyone else. Kamavenga recovered quickly, too, but he needed time.

Are you worried about the high temperature during the game?

-I don't worry, because that's the case, it's nothing we can do. Of course, this has an impact, but we have to accept and adapt.

Does the team feel "undertraining"?

- Our daily training is good, and the players' personal abilities are also excellent. It's about hard training now, I respect Ancelotti very much and take the work of this most successful coach very seriously. But now we are opening a new era, which will be what we want, and of course, this team has laid a very good foundation.

About Rodrigo

- I can say a little bit, I know the end of the season is not easy for him, but he spent some important time adjusting his form, as is the case with the national team. We talked from the beginning…I saw him eager. He is a very good player and we shared some experiences and it’s time to put them into practice.

About Sebaslos

-We have daily communication, he is a very smart player, but we have not had a "important conversation". However, we've talked about the team and what we can do, and I'm very happy with him.

About Riyadh Crescent

- Inzaghi Jr. doesn't have much time to train, but his team is strong: Mitrovic, Milinkovic, Malcolm... They are a very powerful club, a club that fights for the AFC Champions League championship, and they also have a head coach who leads the team to the Champions League final. We'll see what will happen tomorrow, but it will be a very serious challenge.

What role do you think Mbappe should play?

- We have 11 starters and we have to make sure everyone is working in the same direction. We have been working on this goal over the past few days, but there is still a long way to go.

Is Real Madrid a strong contender for the championship? What do you think of Mastantono?

- There is no doubt that Real Madrid will always be a strong contender for the championship, but we must prove ourselves. We won't think too much about July 13 because there's a lot to do before that, but that's what we're going to do.

About Mastantono...We are very happy because he is a kid with a brilliant present and an incredible future, and his maturity is fully reflected off the court. I was deeply impressed by his ambition and maturity in his communication with him. It's not accidental, we're watching his performance at River Plate, where he's taking steps to Real Madrid, and he's going to be very important.

Can you learn about your conversation with Mastantono?

—No, no, of course not (laughs).

How do you feel personally now?

- I'm certainly excited, the training and communication are good, but you want to see the team perform, and the game will tell us a lot. We are eager to win and we will give our all, which is the most important thing, and of course how we do this is also important.

About Modric

—It is very easy to work with Modric because our relationship has always been very good, whether it is teammates or friends, or now the relationship between players and coaches, we have always maintained trust. I love seeing the impact he has on young players and we want to enjoy his performance because he is a legend. It's a luxury to be able to work with him more until the last day.

How long does it take for you?

- I don't know, but we have been working on this project since day one and I'm very happy with the team's roster and signing. Wyson and Arnold are both great players, they don’t need much training and theory, they learn very quickly. Our process has begun and we will show this from tomorrow.

Galado said Real Madrid's signing with Mastantono affected the Riverbed

- well, I watched their game, 3-1, a great game, I didn't feel that they were affected much (laughs).

Ancelotti said that young players should "sit on the bench", do you agree?

—The adaptation process takes time, such as Modric's initial performance is gradually improving. As for Guerre and Enderick, this is a natural process. In the second year, they will be more involved and everything will come naturally.

Some people say this is Real Madrid's "preseason"

- Any competition that Real Madrid participates in is a strong contender for the championship, but we will not consider July 13. Everything comes naturally, but before that, we need to unite and work hard little by little. We need to look at our own way of playing, tomorrow is our starting point, we will definitely have some shortcomings, but we should not be frustrated, that is the time to move forward.

How to deal with the coexistence of Kavajal and Arnold?

—For any coach, it is an honor to have such a player in the same position. Arnold is more comprehensive…and Kavajal, we long for him to return. However, I can say that Arnold has been very positive so far and the whole thing is really a headache.

How does it feel to meet Vinicius?

—I didn't know him before, but I knew him within ten seconds. His way of dealing with things and communication... are very enthusiastic and emotional, and you need to get along with him. I really like these players, he has a big heart, and that's how I feel these days.

Have you seen the stadium?

-Not yet, now I see it, I hope there are good venue conditions here.

Let's talk about Mbappe

- He is a dynamic striker who is not bound by position and is not restricted to the penalty area. Our goal is not to fix the players, because Mbappe is not a typical No. 9 player...but he is indeed a No. 9 player with a lot of goals.

Let's talk about Riyadh Crescent

- We must prepare for this game at our best, and it will undoubtedly be a strong opponent, but we must focus on ourselves. They haven't made their debut under the coaching of Inzaji, so we don't know how they will perform.

Cebalos says you're in a hotel in a crazy place - being able to experience it yourself and witness such a wonderful moment... It's really a joy to have a lot of progress we're going to make.

What is indispensable tomorrow?

—The desire for victory, competition, and to play exciting games. We have to combine a lot of things, but that kind of self-esteem, that kind of team spirit, that kind of determination to defend the team logo... the team already has these, we must work hard to improve, and we must become a team.

As a former player, do you think it is difficult to maintain concentration on the tournament after the season is over?

- I feel they are very focused because there are a lot of new stimulations: national teams, championships, new coaches... the players are very focused and absorb all the ideas we are thinking about. We long for the game because we have that hunger.

Amazed by the level of the Brazilian team?

—Not surprisingly, they showed a very high level and they will be difficult opponents. Whenever they compete in the World Series, they can prove their strength…and everything about this event is a brand new experience for everyone. The World Cup is a grand event, but now we have the opportunity to make this game that brings together global football powers to be just as important.

Saudi Arabia and Mexico teams are involved, which is an attractive event because we usually only focus on Europe and think there is nothing else but this idea is wrong because there are many excellent teams in the world, and the competitions over the past few days have proven this.