Real Madrid's manager, Xabi Alonso, has commented on the 1-1 draw with Girona, which cost the team the top spot in the league. Alonso emphasized that "the season is very long" and "the league table is going to get very tight, with many twists and turns." The coach noted that he "really liked the reaction" of his team at halftime, as they showed "a desire to come back from 0-1" and had "three or four chances inside the box to win the match." "We have to continue with the unity we have, with the necessary self-criticism, and with the desire to win away from home," he added. Alonso admitted that "more minutes of good, offensive football, of being dominant, were missing," but the second half was "much better" than the first, and the team was able to turn the game around. He also highlighted that Wednesday's match in Bilbao against Athletic Club will be "an opportunity to win away from home again" and that the team needs it. Regarding a possible penalty on Rodrygo Goes in the final stretch, he expressed surprise that the VAR did not review the incident and stated that these are "decisive plays that can define the match."
