Real Madrid has already arrived in Philadelphia — and so has Xabi Alonso. He’s preparing for his third match, this time against Salzburg, with securing a spot in the round of 16 as the top priority.

There was no shortage of questions for the Tolosa native, who took time to praise Rodrygo, Huijsen, and Brahim, among others. He also addressed Mbappé’s latest absence from the squad.

Here are his key takeaways from Lincoln Financial Field:

What Madrid wants to see against Salzburg

“To win and finish first. We want to do it with eleven men, against a dynamic opponent.”

On Rodrygo, who started and then vanished from the game

“I see him doing well — motivated. It was a technical decision. He’s a special player.”

On Laporta’s recent comments

“I don’t want to interfere, but yes, there’s a sense of freedom and democracy. They have some power, and so do we. It goes both ways.”

On Mbappé’s fitness

“I was happy to see him back on the pitch — it was his first day in boots. But he still has some weakness that needs to be addressed before he can compete at our level. We talked about it after training. Ideally, we’d have him back if we reach the next round. For now, he’s still recovering.”

If there’s a transfer in the forward line, could Rodrygo be the one to leave?

“I’m very happy with everyone, and I’m counting on them all. They’re excellent players, and the season is long and demanding. We need a balanced squad with healthy competition — we’re talking about 50 to 60 matches.”

On Huijsen’s performance

“He’s becoming one of our key players. In just two days, he’s shown the personality that earned him a place in the national team. He commands respect and affection. He’s a great signing — we need to support and push him. There’s still room for improvement, but I’m very pleased with him.”

On the risk of topping the group leading to a tougher path

“Not trying to win the match sends the wrong message. Of course I’ve seen the table — I’m not blind. But we’re going out there to win. The feeling and momentum matter.”

On the global level of football, post-World Cup

“The World Cup was a good reminder of the talent beyond Europe. Adapting to these new environments helps us grow. Teams we didn’t have on our radar — like River Plate or some of the Brazilians — are performing really well. At first, we thought it would just be the Europeans, but our eyes have been opened.”

On Brahim getting more minutes

“He’s going to be important for us. He’s competitive and understands the game well. He can come in and shake things up in 20 or 30 minutes, or even start. Having impact players like him is crucial. I know I can count on him.”

On Valverde’s role against Pachuca

“I have a few ideas. He’s so versatile — he can play out wide or in a double pivot. He gives us a lot of flexibility.”

On the players’ learning and adaptation

“The group is showing a strong willingness to learn and adapt to this new stage. It’s easy to explain things on paper when you’re dealing with top-level players — they grasp concepts quickly. Our goal is to make that knowledge second nature through daily work.”

On Bellingham’s long-term absence due to surgery

“He’s a key player for us. He not only creates but also has the instinct to finish. We’re focused on helping him get back to his best.”

On managing breaks during the tournament

“It feels more like a national team tournament than preseason — you can see it in how minutes are distributed. That’s what makes this competition special. We gave the players a day off yesterday — they needed the mental and physical reset.”

On starting Tchouaméni or Rüdiger

“I’ve considered it, but I can’t reveal that yet.”

On Alaba’s recovery

“It’s taking a bit longer than we hoped. We have to be patient and go step by step.”

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