Jordi Alba explains one-track mentality: “I enter every game with the idea of winning”

After making his return to the pitch in the closing minutes of the team’s second group game against Porto, Jordi Alba may see increased playing time this Monday against Palmeiras as Inter Miami wraps up its group stage action in the 2025 Club World Cup. The team finished final preparations at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the showdown with the Brazilian giants, but not before the veteran left-back shared a few words with the media.

At 36, Alba reflected on the unpredictable beauty of the sport, telling reporters: “That’s the great thing about football—any team can beat you in today’s game. I think in the first match, [Al Ahly] were better than us in the first half, but we came out stronger in the second and played a better game overall. We deserved that win—it was a close match. As for the second game, I thought we were the dominant side against Porto.”

The Spaniard didn’t hold back when asked about European dominance in club soccer—or the lack thereof.

“Sure, we’re talking about a European opponent with world-class players,” the 36-year-old said of Porto. “But at the end of the day, it’s 11 versus 11 on the field. You have to show up and compete. I think we played a great match and were the better team.”

Pressed on why some European clubs have struggled to secure wins in this year’s Club World Cup, Alba offered a candid reminder: “In soccer, anything can happen. Outsiders might make assumptions about favorites, but those of us who’ve played the game know—it’s not over until that final whistle blows.”

He added that the tournament has already proven how much the global playing field has leveled out: “Any team can challenge you now. Physically, everyone’s up to par—some more, some less—but physicality plays a huge role in today’s game. And in the end, it’s the individual talent across all teams that ends up deciding matches.”

Inter Miami’s group stage objective

When asked about the possibility of settling for a draw against Palmeiras—a result that would send both teams through to the next round, but leave Inter Miami finishing second in the group, the defender was adamant:

“This team is focused on winning, on doing everything we can,” the veteran defender said. “I’ve never stepped onto the field without the aim of winning, and that’s how we’ll all approach this match: to win it, to play well like we did against Porto, and hopefully end top of the group.”

Solid at the back and potent in attack

Speaking with our correspondent Fernando Petrocelli, Alba weighed in on what’s fueling Inter Miami’s surge in form at the tournament.

“Maybe we’re just more focused,” he explained. “It’s true—we’re barely conceding goals, and with the kind of quality we have up front—Messi, Suárez... we know we’re always going to have chances to score.”

He wrapped up his thoughts with a strong sense of optimism about Inter Miami’s momentum—not just for the Club World Cup, but for what lies ahead in the new campaign.

“I think we’re playing really well, getting better every day,” he said. “After this tournament, we’ve got MLS and the Leagues Cup coming up, and we’ll need to keep competing. If we stay at this level, our chances of winning titles go way up. Playing against elite teams only sharpens us as a team, and if we reach the knockout rounds, just imagine how high our ceiling could be. I really believe we’re doing things the right way, and we have to keep it going.”

Back in business

Wrapping up the conversation, Jordi touched on his recent return from injury with a calm sense of readiness:

“Physically, I feel good. Obviously, I was out for three weeks without playing, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like a big gap since there was an international break during that time. I didn’t really miss much. Now we’ll see what the coach decides.”

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