[Real Madrid](https://www.managingmadrid.com) manager Xabi Alonso spoke to the media after the team’s 4-0 loss to PSG on Wednesday. Kiyan Sobhani of Managing Madrid asked Alonso about the lack of press in the match, to which he said: “Well, for sure, we had a proper, strong setback at 2-0 down, and we knew that to recover our clarity on the pitch after such a setback, it was not easy. We had to try not to lose our temper, and it wasn’t easy. But today it wasn’t just about our pressing. It had been about our fluidity with the ball as well. It’s a game that we need to take a lot of lessons from.”
### Alonso on the match
“The start of the match was very important. We had a good opponent, and it got really tough after the 10th minute. PSG is playing well. It’s a two-year project, and we’ve only been here a short time. We have to work calmly, but it obviously hurt.”
### Alonso on reflections from the match
“Today’s results are good for us, showing us how much we still have to improve. PSG is doing things well, and we still have things to do. We’re in a competitive environment, practically without training. Now we need a break, but we’ll be back in four weeks.”
### Alonso on getting Militao and Carvajal back
“Going into the final, you know they’ll be important. We’ll get other people back. This isn’t the starting point for next season. There are positive things in this process, maybe not today. But today isn’t the start of next season, it’s the end of the last one.”
### Alonso on Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez
“It’s only been a short time, but I’ve been trying to make sure they enjoy their last days in the Madrid shirt. It’s not the best send-off. But I want to thank them on behalf of everyone for everything they’ve meant. It’s not the desired ending; it’s a bitter one. Luka won’t be remembered for today’s match, but for many others. He’s a Real Madrid legend. He’ll be remembered for many more good things than just today’s 25 minutes.”
### Alonso on improvements for Mbappe and Vinicius Jr
“I speak as a team, and today, at certain times, it’s sometimes good to see our mistakes and learn from them in the future. If we repeat the same mistakes over and over again, we won’t be smart.”
### Alonso on the lack of tactical switches from him after 2-0
“Because I thought we had to wait a bit. We had our moments in the second half. We made a change, moving Gonzalo a bit to the left to adjust the pressure. There was a change, but maybe it wasn’t perceived. We’ll look at everything from a different perspective, and so will I. We have to be self-critical. But don’t let this ending affect us too much. We’ll start next season from scratch.”
### Alonso on whether there should be new signings
“We haven’t talked about the composition of the squad during the World Cup, but we’re always looking to improve. There’s room for improvement.”
### Alonso on PSG
“They’re at a great level. They showed it in the [Champions League](https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league), in the World Cup... We have to accept that they’re in a very good moment. We’re beginning this new phase. I’ll take that with me, with that information. Time to reset.
“They’ve been playing together for years and are at an incredible level. We’re not the first to lose to them. It’s tough to play against them. We want to keep learning.”
### Alonso on what he takes back to Madrid
“We’ve tried to build a team that plays as a unit. The World Cup has been very interesting and demanding. We’ve reached this point. We’re stuck in the penultimate stage. It hurts, let’s see what happens.”
### Alonso on his ‘certainties’
“I’m leaving with certainties. This championship has told me many things. About who we are and what we need to improve. I’m leaving with a composition of what we’ll see. It’s the last one of the 2024-25 season. In August, we’ll start the 2025-26 season, which will be different. I’m leaving with clear certainties.”