Álvaro

Managing the dressing room

“I don’t feel that sense of camaraderie or friendship. I’ve had a good relationship, just as I’ve had with my players throughout my years as a manager. I don’t see football any other way. Having a good relationship doesn’t mean I can’t be demanding, that I can’t push them or that I can’t tell them to their faces what they’ve done wrong and what needs correcting. It’s a relationship you have to accept when you’re a player and when you’re a manager. Beyond that, it’s important that we all want to go to work and come to training.”

‘We know the high standards this club demands and that we’re going to go through difficult times. But even in those moments, there’s always been a good atmosphere. That doesn’t stop us from being able to say things to each other’s faces – things we might not always like – but that’s what makes us grow as a group. It’s what I’ve tried to do from day one, and for me it’s the right approach because I’ve always done it, and that’s how I feel a dressing room should be.’

The fans

“I’m not worried because I’ve sensed on the streets that the Madrid fans are behind the team. What we need to do is put in a great performance tomorrow, play well, show that we want to win, and earn the applause of the Bernabéu. It’s not enough here to rely on how well we did last Wednesday. Tomorrow is the day when, if we want the stadium behind us, we have to prove it. From the moment the ball starts rolling, we have to go out and win the game and show that ambition. Just as they’re doing in the big games, we need to do it against any team. That’s an area we need to keep improving, and tomorrow is the only thing I’m worried about.”

Arda Güler

“It’s been three very intense months with Güler. We’ve built a great relationship because we’ve been through a lot together. When I arrived here, there was a lot of talk about Arda not being capable of playing in big, high-intensity matches. Just look at the performances he’s put in against Bayern or Manchester City. I made it very clear to him from day one: whether he plays or doesn’t play in any match, whatever the intensity, it won’t be for lack of ability. Ever since I’ve been able to work with him, I’ve always seen the talent he possesses, the drive and the dedication that a player like him brings. It’s to his credit because he’s also been able to learn from the mistakes we’ve made along the way, from the ups and downs, and from the things he’s done well and not so well. It’s a great reward for the season Arda Güler is having.

Has joining the club midway through the season affected you?

“It’s not the same joining midway through the season under the circumstances I’ve found myself in—with so many injuries and a whole host of other completely different factors—as it is when you start a season from the very beginning. Nor does it warrant much further reflection on something that’s obvious to me. We have a great squad; I say that because I believe it, and I don’t think we need any major overhaul to try and compete for titles again. It’s always clear that there’s room for improvement. All teams look to the future in the summer to make improvements, and I’m sure Real Madrid will do so, and with that we’ll be back in the fight to win.”

Questions focused more on his future than on tomorrow’s match

“You ask the questions, not me. You’re free to ask whatever you like. The only thing that concerns me are the seven matches, especially tomorrow’s.”

Mbappé against Bayern

“I can’t be annoyed with anything Mbappé has done. He’s had a tie that’s been worthy of the player he is, scoring a goal in every match, posing a constant threat and helping us a lot when we were on the counter-attack, including when we had to play the ball out. He’s made a huge sacrifice in defence and worked incredibly hard. Believe it or not, we watch the matches more than once after they’re over. I’m pleased with Mbappé’s performance in the tie and with the player he is. He’s been a constant threat to Bayern and that’s the Kylian Mbappé we want to see every day.”

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.