Despite dropping points to Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano within the span of six days, Xabi Alonso insisted Real Madrid are not in “crisis” ahead of the November international break.
At the beginning of the week, Los Blancos were in cruise control across all competitions. The Spanish giants were five points clear of Barcelona atop the La Liga standings and had a perfect record in the Champions League.
Then, Real Madrid suffered a disappointing 1–0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday evening and subsequently only managed a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano on Sunday afternoon. Alonso’s once-lethal attack has now been held quiet in two consecutive matches.
Still, the Spanish boss is not rushing to sound any alarm bells just yet.
“Is it a crisis? We know where we stand,” Alonso said in his postgame press conference. “I believe that in both good and bad times, we need to know how to balance things out.
“The season is long and the demands are extremely high, but we live with it and prepare for it.”
Real Madrid still sit atop the La Liga standings after the draw, but they left the door open for Barcelona to gain some ground with a victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday evening. A win for the Catalans puts Alonso’s men just three points in front of their arch rivals.
