Alonso Critiques Simeone’s Conduct as Real Madrid Advances to Supercopa Final

Vinicius was substituted late in Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory, and as he exited the pitch, he had another confrontation with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. The Brazilian winger voiced his concerns to the referee regarding comments made by Simeone, who allegedly remarked, “Florentino [Perez] is going to fire you; remember that.” Alonso attempted to address Simeone on the touchline, reportedly advising him to focus on his own team.

In his post-match press conference, Alonso expressed his anger towards Simeone for attempting to provoke Vinicius. “I found the moment inappropriate. Cholo made a comment to him, and such remarks undermine the camaraderie we should uphold among teammates. I believe that not everything is acceptable. I had a conversation with Vinicius, and that remains between us.

“I strive to maintain respect for the opposing players and typically refrain from engaging with them. Upon hearing what Simeone said, it further displeased me. This behavior does not exemplify good sportsmanship. There are boundaries to what is permissible in competition; respect for your opponent is paramount.

“Such comments are unacceptable; some lines should never be crossed.”

Despite Vinicius’s ongoing goal drought, failing to score for the 18th consecutive match for both Real Madrid and Brazil, the result was significant for Los Blancos, who sought retribution for a previous 5-2 defeat against their city rivals at the Estadio Metropolitano earlier this season. Alonso particularly acknowledged Federico Valverde’s contributions, whose spectacular free-kick opened the scoring.

“It was a fiercely contested match,” Alonso reflected. “Fede’s early goal provided us with a tactical advantage, prompting us to modify our strategy. We managed to navigate the first half without excessive difficulty. Given the semifinal context, the game had its various moments, but this team is well-equipped to compete. It was intense. At 1-2, we needed to adjust our tactics, stabilize, and endure. This journey is leading us toward the title on Sunday, and we’re now in the final. Our objective was to face a formidable opponent in the final, especially after not forgetting the earlier league match. We required energy, duels, and challenges.

“Yes, the early goal significantly influenced the match. It was vital to comprehend our required actions at each stage. The most important aspect is securing our place in the final.

“Fede had an outstanding performance—his goal, the assist, his teamwork, and his defensive intensity were all commendable. His competitive spirit is remarkable; while goals may not be his primary focus, they certainly energize him. This was a classic Fede goal, executed with an impressive strike.”

Real Madrid is now poised to face their arch-rivals, Barcelona, in the Supercopa de España final on Sunday evening at King Abdullah Sport City. Barcelona triumphed 5-2 in this fixture at the same stage last season, but Hansi Flick’s team emerged victorious against Alonso’s squad this season, winning 2-1 at the Bernabéu in October.

Barcelona secured their final spot with a commanding 5-0 victory over Athletic Club in the semifinals. While Real Madrid looks forward to welcoming Kylian Mbappé back from injury, Barcelona hopes to include Lamine Yamal in their lineup amidst his own fitness issues.