Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso was most happy with Match winner Kylian Mbappe and debutant Franco Mastantuono after his first La Liga competition. Their 1-0 win over Osasuna was also an opportunity for friendly words for the recurring Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.
Los Blancos eventually hit victors with two debut in Alvaro Carreras and Mastantuono, while Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold also made their first performances in the Santiago Bernabeu.
“What I saw was that neither the shirt nor the Bernabeu weighed on them. They had four versions that were good, serious, perhaps not spectacular, but correct. Franco disturbed some feathers when he came up, and the attitude. I am happy with the victory and I am happy to return to the Bernabeu.
Buiten Huijsen, Mastantuono was perhaps the most exciting party.
“We saw some of the things we could get out of him, and he looks a good player? It is true that he did not train with us, but he has prepared himself. And today, the emotional side may weigh more than the physical.”
The new Real Madrid manager was also of the opinion that he saw a difference in Mbappe, whether it is up to him to wear the number 10 or not.
“I think that after the first year, and after doing many good things, I want to want more. I don't know if that is a song, or his ambition to win. If he can give more at a collective level, on an individual level, and because of the song it is fantastic. But what you are one day of day, he is a bit different.
Another player who praised Alonso was Arda Guler, who started and was only withdrawn into a stopping time – a relative rarity for him last season.
“Since we have been here, he takes steps forward, not only without the ball, but his way of managing the position, his way of connecting the team, to connect. And in the first half he made a number of good runs back, restored the ball and allowed us to attack. This is what we have to keep pushing him and we do it with him.”
The Basque manager was also happy with his backline. It was a memorable opportunity for Dani Carvajal and Eer Militao, who came back for the first time since October and November in action in the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Very happy with Dean, who deserved it to start. I was also very happy for Militao, after the injury he played a very serious game.”
“Not only what he can give on the field, but there is a captain, he spent many hours in the Bernabeu, he knows what to do to win, and he must communicate that to the others. He will be fundamentally for us. And Carva is now back.”