'It was a bit uncomfortable' – Real Madrid coach on the match against Kairat
Tengrinews.kz – Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso shared his thoughts after the Champions League match against Kairat, according to Vesti.kz.
As a reminder, the historic match between Kairat and Real Madrid took place in Almaty, ending with a 5-0 victory for the Spanish side.
At the post-match press conference, the head of the “royal club” commented on the game:
“Kairat deserves the right to play in the Champions League. We all saw that during our time in Almaty. We were warmly welcomed here, and the atmosphere was incredible.
Kairat started actively. It was a bit uncomfortable for us at first. We started combining and tried to play out from under Kairat's pressing, largely thanks to Arda Güler. We were surprised by how aggressive Kairat was,” Alonso said, as quoted by Vesti.kz.
He also praised the beauty of Almaty.
“We travel a lot, and it’s hard to impress us. But the mountains here are stunning. I’m very interested in them. If I came here as a tourist, I would definitely go hiking there,” Xabi added.
Alonso also praised French striker Kylian Mbappé, who was named Man of the Match.
“He plays a key role in every game, especially near the goal. He finishes attacking combinations. His first goal today was beautiful. It’s important that he keeps getting chances and delivers results. I’m very pleased with how he plays. He’s having a fantastic season,” Alonso concluded.
Notably, Kairat had a chance to score in the 68th minute with a penalty, but the referee chose not to award the spot kick against Real Madrid.