The new Real Madrid boss has not forgotten about the
remarkable 2005 Champions League final where Liverpool beat AC Milan, while the
midfielder has defended Jose Mourinho
.
New Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has jokingly told
Xabi Alonso that he 'owes' him a European Cup following the 2005 Champions
League final.
Ancelotti was head coach of the AC Milan side that gave
away a three-goal lead against Alonso's Liverpool in the showpiece in Istanbul
eight years ago, and the Italian coach has not forgotten about the events at
the Ataturk Stadium.
"The first thing Ancelotti said to me after his
arrival was that I owe him a European Cup," Alonso revealed in an
interview with El Mundo.
The midfielder then went on to defend Jose Mourinho
against recent criticism and stressed that the Portuguese coach always respects
his players as long as they give their all.
Alonso added: "Mourinho always respects the players
who work hard for the team. My father used to be a coach, so I grew up in an
environment where there was a lot of respect for figures like him. It is very
difficult to control 25 players."
Alonso also had his say on former Madrid greats such as
Fernando Redondo and Fernando Hierro and stated that he learned a lot from
both.
"Hierro taught me a lot about what it means to be
captain. Redondo as well from everything I hear about him and his period
here," he said.
"These are players who won European Cups and knew
they could compete once they'd made it to the quarter-finals."
Madrid are currently preparing for their Liga opener
against Betis on Sunday.
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