Álvaro Arbeloa praised Xabi Alonso’s performance in last nights comfortable 4-1 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League.
The right back, who scored on the night, spoke of his friendship with the Spanish central midfielder and his importance at Real Madrid.
“Xabi is a very good friend. Everyone says we depend on Alonso. The problem is not ours, it is theirs because he is the best,” said Arbeloa.
“His presence changes everything. There is no one in the world like him and he is a central pillar to this team”.
The 30-year-old scored a rare goal from a Marcelo cross, before producing an assist 12-minutes later as his low cross found Angel de Maria inside the area.
Arbeloa claimed: “The team played very well in the second half. The coach was right with the tactical change and we pressed more”.
“I am grateful to the Bernabéu crowd, who know how things are, and when you do things well they recognize it”
When asked about receiving a booking for going down in the Galatasaray area, the Spaniard felt he was harshly punished.
“He touched me. I said that to the referee that it wasn’t a yellow because he had touched me”.
