🔴 Real, it's Xabi Alonso Day! Flick: "Glad he's here" 😍

Yahoo

6 days ago

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
It's Xabi Alonso's day at Real Madrid. Today, in fact, the biggest club in the world officially presented the new coach to the press, the man who will have to take over the reins from His Majesty Carlo Ancelotti.
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It's certainly not an easy task, but in the Spanish capital, they are convinced that there is no better profile than the now former Bayer Leverkusen coach to chase Flick's Barcelona.
The players' welcome
Meanwhile, reactions from Real Madrid players have started to emerge on social media. Here is the post published by Arda Guler on X
🙂 Flick: "I'm happy he's here"
Barcelona coach, German Hansi Flick, was asked about Xabi Alonso's arrival on the Real Madrid bench. Here's what he had to say about the former Bayern Munich player:
"He's coming to a league he knows well, but where they also know what philosophy he brings with him. I spoke with him when he was working at Leverkusen, I spoke to him many times. I like him. I know his philosophy and it's really solid. It's fantastic to see the success he had in Germany, at a very high level with a team like Leverkusen. Moreover, the players improved a lot under his guidance, and yes, I'm pleased to see him here. I'm happy he's here."
👑 Xabi Alonso: "Ancelotti's legacy, an honor"
After the president, it was Xabi Alonso's turn, who thanked Florentino Perez and spoke for the first time as coach of Los Blancos:
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"Without a doubt, this is a very special day for me. A day I will have marked on my calendar for my entire life. I am very happy to be here, in what I feel is my home. The bond with Madridismo has never ceased to exist and, since I entered Valdebebas an hour and a half ago, this feeling has been reborn. I have the feeling that this is the beginning of a new era. Florentino, thank you so much for your trust. I feel that the fans, the Madridistas, are excited to start this new phase, to grow and to make the history of this club even greater. Thanks also to my family, who are always with me."
Xabi then reserved some kind words for Carlo Ancelotti, his former coach:
"Before I start talking about the new adventure, I'd like to say something about what has just ended. Carlo was my coach, a great person and a great influence. Without his mastery, I probably wouldn't be here. I'm taking his place and accepting his legacy with great honor and pride. I hope to live up to expectations and to take the club where we all believe it should be. A period is beginning in which I feel the club and the fans are united. We have a great team, we have fantastic players and excellent potential. This gives me reason to come here with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We are convinced we can achieve important goals, worthy of Real Madrid. We want the fans to be proud and for people to come to the stadium to enjoy themselves. If we can ignite this fire, we will have unstoppable strength. We are convinced we can do beautiful things. Thank you very much, Hala Madrid."
🤝 Florentino Perez: "Welcome to one of our own"
The presentation press conference for Xabi Alonso began with a tribute video to the new Real coach. Then, the president of Los Merengues, Florentino Perez, took the floor:
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"Madridismo is something that is cultivated every day. Real Madrid belongs to the hearts of the people, because this crest represents the values that are worked on here every day. The values that have been necessary to achieve a record that is hard to match and to have lived, in recent years, one of the most successful periods in our history. The strength of this club is to continue working to make the dreams of Madridismo come true. That's why today is a very special day. A coach has arrived who is one of the best in the world and who knows what Real Madrid is, what this shirt means. Today we welcome one of our own: Xabi Alonso.
The president then added:
"Dear Xabi, welcome to your home, welcome to Real Madrid. I'm sure you are experiencing a very emotional moment today. You showed it when you arrived in 2009 to defend this shirt. You won six titles that are already part of Real Madrid's history. You are also one of the great legends of the Spanish national team, with whom you won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships. Today, however, you return home. We all knew what your destiny would be when, in 2018, you sat on the bench to coach the Infantil A team. You achieved a milestone that is already part of German football history: winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. This journey has made you one of the greatest figures in football and one of the best coaches in the world. Today you return to Madrid as first-team coach to face one of the greatest challenges of your life.
You know how demanding this club is, but I am sure we will share many joys. Dear Xabi: welcome to your home, welcome to Real Madrid."
⏱️ The schedule
At 12:00, the contract will be signed in the presence of Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez.
Half an hour later, the presentation will begin, and around 1:30 pm Xabi Alonso will hold his first press conference as Real Madrid coach.