Coach Xabi Alonso: 'Mbappe inspires his teammates'

Coach Xabi Alonso expressed particular admiration for Kylian Mbappe following the 1-0 win against Osasuna.

Xabi Alonso enjoyed a successful La Liga debut as Real Madrid's head coach, leading the team to a 1-0 win over Osasuna on the morning of August 20. The hero of the match was none other than new number 10, Kylian Mbappe, who scored the decisive penalty in the 51st minute.

Despite having only two weeks to prepare for the season, Real Madrid still showcased their quality thanks to Mbappe's crucial moment. After the match, Coach Alonso heaped praise on the French star: “It's clear that Kylian is eager to achieve even more after an already impressive debut season. I can't say if it's because he's now wearing the number 10 shirt, but it's obvious that Mbappe wants to elevate himself and motivate those around him.”

Since joining Real last season, Mbappe has made his mark with 44 goals across all competitions, even though it took time to adapt under Carlo Ancelotti. This year, he inherits the legendary number 10 jersey, previously worn by icons like Puskas, Luis Figo, Mesut Ozil, and Wesley Sneijder. Speaking about his new number, Mbappe shared: “Number 10 is a special and important number at Real Madrid. I used to wear number 9, which also holds a lot of meaning. But above all, what matters most is being able to play for Real at the Bernabeu.”

Aside from Mbappe, the match also saw debuts for four new signings: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, and Franco Mastantuono. However, Rodrygo, who has been linked with a move away from Bernabeu, was surprisingly left out. When asked about this, Alonso reassured: “There’s nothing going on with Rodrygo. I still need him. This was simply a decision for this particular match.”

Alongside the satisfaction of victory, Alonso admitted Real still has areas to improve after a challenging start, emphasizing their focus on greater goals this season. With his opening goal, Mbappe not only proved his worth but also demonstrated his new leadership role at the Bernabeu, promising to be a source of inspiration as Real aims for the highest achievements.