Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has explained his decision to start star forward Vinicius Jr. on the bench in Sunday’s LaLiga clash with Osasuna, insisting it was part of his plan to rotate the squad and keep the whole team involved.
Madrid cruised to a 3-0 win at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice before Vinicius came off the bench to add a late third in the 90th minute. The Brazilian’s impact sparked questions, but Alonso was quick to clarify his reasoning after the game.
“Everyone is different, and you have to demand respect, and the relationship is a little different,” Alonso told reporters. “In football, decisions are made with the team in mind; you have to understand things, and that was the case today.”
The 42-year-old coach, who is managing Madrid in his first full season, stressed that rotation would be a key part of his approach. He explained that changes will depend on the workload of players and the nature of each opponent.
“The substitutions from game to game depend on what we need in terms of workload and opponent. I haven’t made any decisions for next month. It’s important for people to feel important, ready, and ready for the next game,” he said.
Alonso also highlighted the importance of maintaining stability and consistency across the squad. “It was a game to see that we continue to grow. After Tuesday against Osasuna, we’ve grown today, and we want to continue like this,” he added.
Madrid’s convincing victory preserved their perfect start to the league campaign, making it three wins from three matches. With Mbappé already firing and Vinicius still providing goals off the bench, Alonso appears to be building a system that keeps his stars fresh while giving opportunities to others in the squad.
Los Blancos will look to extend their unbeaten run when they travel to face Mallorca in their next LaLiga outing on Sunday.