Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has called on his side to shift focus to their UEFA Champions League tie with debutants Kairat Almaty after their heavy 5-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid in La Liga at the weekend, Afrosport reports.
The defeat was the first in all competitions for Alonso this season and the first derby loss in the league since January 2023.
It was also the first time in 75 years that Los Blancos conceded five goals to their fierce city rivals, and Alonso, speaking 6,441 kilometres away in Almaty, wants his squad to move on from the disappointment.
“I think that both in victory and defeat, the feeling should last 24 hours. Then comes the analysis,” the Spaniard said.
“It wasn’t just about attitude; it was also pace, tactics – things about the game. We’ve done the analysis and we’re going to use it.”
Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 home win over Olympique Marseille, and Alonso wants his side to secure all three points in distant Kazakhstan.
“The match is just another match, it’s not an excuse,” he added. “It doesn’t matter who the opponent is or where we’re playing – we want to win.”
🛬 Touchdown in Almaty! pic.twitter.com/qdhjj2Q4hX
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 28, 2025
Alonso also dismissed questions about a lack of communication in the dressing room, asserting the team is a work in progress.
“Sometimes, to take a step forward, you have to take two steps back,” he stated. “It hurts, but we’re already in Champions League mode.
“We weren’t at our best. It’s part of the learning process. It has hurt, but we’re thinking about what to do tomorrow. We don’t want to drop points.”
After the game against Kairat Almaty, Real Madrid will host Villarreal in La Liga before the commencement of the October international break.
