Xabi Alonso says Real Madrid star reminds him of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard after overcoming 'bad taste in his mouth' with goal against Pachuca

Madrid defeated Pachuca 3-1 in the Club World Cup despite going down to 10 men inside the first 10 minutes. Uruguay international Valverde, who missed a late penalty in the recent draw against Al-Hilal, scored a crucial third goal and earned high praise from the new boss Alonso, who compared him to Liverpool legend Gerrard for his versatility and impact across the pitch.

Alonso said of Valverde: "I haven't seen many players with his physical performance. He reminds me of someone like Steven Gerrard. He can play anywhere, and I'm very happy to be coaching him. All coaches would like to have a Valverde on the team. He got rid of the bad taste in his mouth from the penalty the other day today, and his determination was evident in his celebration."

With Los Blancos chasing another international title, Alonso's praised the 'discipline and sacrifice' the team are making to clinch this one. While Luka Modric was lauded for his continued excellence, Alonso revealed the team is still monitoring Kylian Mbappe’s fitness.

The coach added: “I'm not going to say that the three goals came because we worked on the attacking midfielders, but we did talk about it during the hydration break. They have the quality and their finishing was fantastic. It gave us an advantage in a difficult situation, being a man down from the 7th minute. The team showed discipline and sacrifice, knowing how to control the game without the ball. We knew that if we won the ball back, we could come out on top, and that's how the goals came."

Madrid move on to the final stages of the Club World Cup with momentum. Valverde’s form, Modric’s consistency, and Mbappe’s possible return will shape Alonso’s tactical approach as they are set to face Red Bull Salzburg in the final match of the Group stage on 27th June in Philadelphia.