Xabi Alonso has told his team mates not to ease up in the title race having seen Los Blancos move top of La Liga for the first time this season.
The 2-0 win over Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu ensured Madrid moved two points clear of Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid for a day at least. And while Los Blancos can watch the others in action today while the rest up, Alonso urged his team mates to keep taking each match as it comes.
Just three weeks ago, Madrid were five points off the top of the table. But a remarkable run of nine wins, and seven clean sheets in a row, has seen them come right back into contention for La Liga.
Speaking to journalists after the match, 32-year-old Alonso stated: “There is still a long way to go, but we have made up a lot of points and have to keep going. We are playing well and even though there is still a long way to go, we are where we wanted to be.” He added that the team wants to keep improving as the season goes on.
Alonso also has special words of praise for Ronaldo, who scored his 22nd league goal, and 40th of the season, with Madrid’s opener. The Portugal forward showed off his Ballon d’Or ahead of the game to the fans, an award that Alonso says his team mate richly deserved.
“I am very happy for him. He deserves the Ballon d’Or and to be able to celebrate it with the fans that have supported him so much over recent years, and who continue to do so. What we want to do is to keep going as we have been until now,” he said.
