Xabi Alonso Asks Real Madrid to Forget Defeat to Barcelona and Rise in Copa del Rey

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso does not want the 2026 Spanish Super Cup final to become a prolonged psychological burden for his players. Los Blancos had to acknowledge Barcelona's superiority with a 2-3 loss in the final held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, January 12, 2026 early morning WIB.

Alonso asked his team to quickly close that chapter and look ahead to the rest of the season with their heads held high.

For Alonso, failing to win the trophy is not a reason to wallow in disappointment. He actually sees a positive foundation that can be used as a stepping stone to bounce back in the next match.

"We are not happy with the result, but we take the positives from it. The season is still long and we must get back to winning ways as soon as possible," said Alonso, quoted from the Real Madrid website.

Upon arriving in Madrid, Alonso instructed his players to immediately shift their focus to facing Albacete in the Round of 16 of the 2025/2026 Copa del Rey on Thursday, January 15, 2026 early morning WIB.

This match is crucial for maintaining momentum. Alonso does not want his players to taste bitter defeat again due to failing to capitalize on chances maximally, as happened against Barcelona.

According to Alonso, in the El Clasico match, Real Madrid were competitive, but lacked sharpness in decisive moments, especially towards the end of the game, resulting in missed opportunities to convert an equalizing goal.

"We fought until the end and we were very close to a draw, especially through the last two chances. These feelings are mixed. On one hand, disappointed not to be champions, but on the other, I am proud because the players gave everything from the first minute," said Alonso.

Alonso also highlighted the performance of two of his stars. Vinicius Junior was praised for his consistency in pressing Barcelona's defense and scoring an important goal. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was deemed to have performed as planned despite recently recovering from Injury.

With this defeat, Real Madrid failed to add to their Spanish Super Cup collection and remain at 13 trophies, with the last title won in 2024. Conversely, Barcelona further cemented their status as the all-time top collectors with 16 titles throughout history.

The 2026 Spanish Super Cup also marks the seventh edition of the tournament held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. During that period, Real Madrid collected three titles (2020, 2022, 2024). The other three titles belong to Barcelona (2023, 2025, 2026), and Athletic Club with one title (2021).