Alonso Demands Improvement After Real Madrid’s “Painful” Derby Thrashing

MADRID, Spain – Real Madrid gaffer Xabi Alonso said his side got what they deserved after a right proper thrashing by Atletico Madrid, ending the match 5-2 in a derby what will be remembered for years. He’s told his players they need to learn from it, and quick.

Speaking to the press after the final whistle, Alonso didn’t mince his words. “We was second best all over the pitch, simple as that,” he admitted. “It’s a defeat that hurts, yeah, but it were deserved. We never got going, we was lacking a gear.”

This weren’t just any old loss, mind. It were the first time in 75 year that Atletico have put five past their famous rivals, a real stat that shows how poor Real were.

Despite the result leaving a right sour taste, Alonso reckons it could be a blessing in disguise. “Maybe this will be good for us in the long run,” he said. “You have to feel this pain, but use it proper. We weren’t at it from the start, we didn’t have the intensity for a big match like this.”

When asked what annoyed him most, the manager pointed to the lack of fight. “I could see we wasn’t playing at our best, we had no rhythm about us.”

The result means Real are still top of La Liga with 18 points, but Barcelona are right behind them with a game in hand. Alonso, who only took the job in the summer, asked the fans for a bit of patience. “This is all part of the process, there’s gonna be tough days. It’s how we reacts what matters.”