Xabi Alonso Reacts to Lamine Yamal’s Comments Ahead of El Clásico

MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has acknowledged the excitement generated by Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal’s recent comments about the ongoing rivalry between the two teams ahead of El Clásico.

As anticipation builds for the match on Sunday, Yamal stirred controversy when he criticized Madrid’s relationship with referees, stating, “Yes, they rob; they complain; they do things…” This comment referenced Madrid’s struggles in recent El Clásico matchups, where they lost all four encounters last season.

Alonso chose to stay diplomatic in his response, saying, “It’s a big enough match, it has a lot of ingredients, and that’s what excites us most for tomorrow.” He added, “I’m not going to go into that. There are a lot of statements from people at Barcelona, and I can’t analyze them all.”

Despite the controversial remarks, Alonso stressed the importance of focusing on the game itself. He indicated that the upcoming faceoff would be intense and hard-fought. Reports suggest that Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal may confront Yamal about his remarks.

Madrid currently leads the La Liga standings, two points ahead of Barcelona. Alonso hopes to extend this lead with a decisive victory against their rivals at the Bernabéu.

Yamal’s history of provocative statements adds fuel to the rivalry and has reportedly frustrated Madrid players, who are reportedly using his words as motivation for the match. As Yamal enters the game coming back from injury, his actions could play a pivotal role in the outcome of this eagerly anticipated matchup.