REAL MADRID
Alaba: "Madrid cannot be compared to Munich, my second home"
Real Madrid defender David Alaba spoke about the deep connection he maintains with Bayern Munich and the Bavarian capital in an interview with the Bayern Insider podcast.
He may now be a Real Madrid player but David Alaba is still very much tied with Bayern Munich, the club where he played for 12 years before his move to Real Madrid this summer.
So much so, in fact, that the Austrian defender has this week given an interview to the Bayern Insider podcast produced by German newspaper Bild, where he discussed his love for Bayern, his new coach Carlo Ancelotti, as well as responding to the furore in the Bavarian capital over his actions during his Madrid unveiling.
Alaba: Munich is “my second home”
On the day of his Madrid presentation, Alaba was photographed kissing the Spanish club’s iconic badge on his shirt, something which angered Bayern fans.
Asked about the incident on the Bayern Insider podcast, the 29-year-old defender said: “It doesn't mean that I no longer love Bayern. It was just a very special day for me. It was the beginning of a new stage, but I didn't want to provoke the Bayern fans at all. I spent thirteen wonderful years there.
“I will always be grateful to the fans and the club for giving me the opportunity to develop as a person and a player. Munich became my second home. I did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
Discussing the two cities of Madrid and Munich, Alaba went further to appease Bayern fans. "Madrid cannot be compared to Munich. It has become my second home and I will always keep it in my heart,” he declared.
Alaba on working with Ancelotti again
Like Alaba himself, Carlo Ancelotti was also a new arrival in the Spanish capital this summer, the Italian coach returning for a second spell as Madrid coach.
Alaba, who played under Ancelotti at Bayern, also discussed working with the Italian again, revealing: “Working with him is fantastic. In Munich we had a very good relationship and the desire and enthusiasm he conveys in each training session has not changed."
Following Alaba’s departure from Bayern, Marcel Sabitzer joined the Bavarian ouft this summer and the Madrid defender expressed his delight to see his Austria team mate join his old club.
"He's a great guy and a great player. He has everything you need to be a top world-class player. He grew up in Leipzig and I am very happy, also as an Austrian, that he has decided to take this step,” said Alaba.
“He will give a lot to Bayern. I've been talking to him for a long time, especially about Bayern. I told him it's a spectacular club where he will have incredible moments.”