Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has admitted he is “hurt” after their 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Speaking after the match, Alonso conceded that the result was deserved after what he described as “a bad game.”
The two teams went into the break level. Robin Le Normand gave Atlético the lead, before Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler scored for Madrid. Alexander Sørloth equalised in added time.
Julián Álvarez then struck twice — once from the penalty spot and once with a free kick — to put the home side in control, before substitute Antoine Griezmann added a fifth late on.
The result marked Real Madrid’s first defeat of the season.
“It was a bad game,” Alonso said.
“We didn’t play well collectively, with or without the ball. We weren’t at the level we need to be at.
“We know we’re in a ‘construction phase,’ we have to take conclusions from what happened and they’ll help us in the future, but there are no excuses. We were lacking a gear. This defeat hurts.”
