Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso: David Villa Is Not The Only Valencia Player To Worry About

Xabi Alonso has warned that Valencia are more than a one-man team ahead of Real Madrid's clash with Los Che at La Mestalla...

Dec 10, 2009 4:20:32 PM

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Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid (MARCA)

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Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, who has recovered from injury in time to face Valencia in Saturday's highly-anticipated Liga encounter, has declared that there is more than just David Villa to worry about when facing Los Che.

"Villa worries me, but I am also concerned with a few more," began the Basque midfielder, speaking at a charity event to raise awareness of blood donation. "Pablo [Hernandez], [Juan] Mata, Joaquin... they are all team-mates [of mine] with La Seleccion, but on Saturday they will be opponents and one has to be cautious against them."

Alonso acknowledged that he was still feeling a few physical discomforts in the wake of Tuesday's Champions League match against Olympique de Marseille, but that he would have no problems returning to action by Saturday.

The Spanish international also compared the two free kicks that Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi slotted home in their respective Champions League matches and praised his Portuguese teammate for his effort. "I enjoyed Cristiano's effort more than Messi's because I saw it in person and it was extraordinarily difficult to hit it the way he did," reckoned Alonso.

Finally, when asked which teams he would like to face in the knockout phase of the Champions League, the Madrid conductor was pragmatic: "If we want to win the [Champions League] title, our rival should not matter to us. We know that we will have to face good teams in the competition and even those that seem easier can surprise."

Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com

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