Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has decided to change the club’s travel routine and will not complete the pre-match training session at Anfield next Monday, according to a report from MARCA. Instead, Real Madrid will train at Valdebebas on Monday morning and then travel to Liverpool for the pre-match press conference, as UEFA requires away teams to handle media duties at the venue where the game will be played.
This change of routine is significant, as previous coaches like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane preferred to hold the pre-game training session in the stadium. However, other managers, such as José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola—both of whom coached Xabi Alonso—implemented this policy as well.
Real Madrid face Liverpool in what is arguably the toughest away game remaining in their Champions League group-stage schedule. Los Blancos are coming off a huge win against Barcelona in El Clásico and will try to keep that momentum going.