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Xabi Alonso: We Didn't Play That Well Against Barcelona
He insists there is still a long way to go.
Nov 29, 2009 4:15:59 PM
Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso admitted his side didn't play that well in their 1-0 El Clasico defeat to champions Barcelona at Camp Nou but said he felt it was an even contest.
A lone second half goal from substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Barca the victory and afterwards Alonso rued missed opportunities for Los Blancos and also said that the dismissal of Sergi Busquets made his side "anxious."
"Playing against ten you get a bit anxious, but it was a very even match I thought. We had our chances but we lost. It’s too bad we couldn’t score," he said.
"In the second half they scored first and we lost. We didn’t play that great, but a bit better, but we knew what we had to do."
The midfielder was unconcerned at losing top spot to the Blaugrana at this stage of the season as he feels there is still a long way to go in the league campaign but added that his side must now start preparing for the return Clasico at the Bernabeu.
"It [losing top spot] doesn’t matter. We’re only a couple of points behind but there's still a lot of games to go. Now we just have to go off prepare for the Clasico at home," noted the former Liverpool star.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
For more on Spain click ahead to Goal.com's Spain homepage
A lone second half goal from substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Barca the victory and afterwards Alonso rued missed opportunities for Los Blancos and also said that the dismissal of Sergi Busquets made his side "anxious."
"Playing against ten you get a bit anxious, but it was a very even match I thought. We had our chances but we lost. It’s too bad we couldn’t score," he said.
"In the second half they scored first and we lost. We didn’t play that great, but a bit better, but we knew what we had to do."
The midfielder was unconcerned at losing top spot to the Blaugrana at this stage of the season as he feels there is still a long way to go in the league campaign but added that his side must now start preparing for the return Clasico at the Bernabeu.
"It [losing top spot] doesn’t matter. We’re only a couple of points behind but there's still a lot of games to go. Now we just have to go off prepare for the Clasico at home," noted the former Liverpool star.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
For more on Spain click ahead to Goal.com's Spain homepage
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