Xabi Alonso delighted by Gonzalo García's performance: "many congratulations to him"

Real Madrid kicked off 2026 in the best possible way with a 5–1 rout of Real Betis on matchday 18 of LaLiga, heading to Saudi Arabia in high spirits ahead of the Spanish Super Cup. Los Blancos will face Atlético Madrid in Riyadh on January 8. Xabi Alonso’s side delivered a strong all-around performance against the Bético outfit, with the main highlight being a hat-trick from academy graduate Gonzalo García, who seized his opportunity to replace Kylian Mbappé and impressed both fans and pundits alike. A display that did not go unnoticed by his manager, who praised him in emphatic fashion.

“I congratulate Gonzalo on the match he played and encourage him to keep going; he is a great example of what it means to be a Real Madrid academy player. It was a dream match for him — playing at the Bernabéu, his first season with the first team, and scoring a hat-trick. He was eager to score in this stadium, and I’m happy for him and for the daily work he puts in, whether he plays or not. His attitude is impressive and he truly represents what it means to come through the Real Madrid academy. I congratulate him for the performance, the hat-trick, and encourage him to continue on this path”, Alonso said.

In another aspect, the 44-year-old coach highlighted the importance of the 21-year-old forward’s off-the-ball work during the match, adding that he is a highly technical player who also makes a strong defensive contribution when supporting the team in that phase of the game.

“Football demands teamwork both with and without the ball. Forwards set the press, defend during high pressing phases, and understand when and how to apply pressure. Gonzalo understands that very well — he has great intensity, excellent acceleration, strong pressing timing, and on top of that, he scores goals, which is the most important thing. When you add that defensive ability to his goal-scoring instinct, it greatly improves the team’s overall defensive balance,” he added.

On the other hand, Xabi Alonso spoke about the difficult situation Vinícius Júnior experienced during the match, after the Brazilian was heavily criticized by the fans and loudly booed when he was substituted in the 77th minute, making way for Argentine youngster Franco Mastantuono.

“He contributed a lot. He came into the game very well and was highly influential, especially in the first half. He’s persistent and brings a lot to the team. I liked his performance and everything he gave us, and he will be fundamental. Now we face Atlético in the Super Cup and he will be very important. He’s a mature player and we’re all together, supporting one another. We want to deliver our best version, both as a team and individually. He is, has been, and will continue to be fundamental for Real Madrid. I’m sure the Bernabéu will applaud him — I have no doubt”, he concluded.

Now Real Madrid will prepare the next crucial game against Atlético Madrid, in one of the most important matches in the season.