Xabi Alonso says that “nobody can doubt” the quality of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, and tipped the two under-fire stars to prove haters wrong over the course of the season.
Bale and Benzema were recently whistled by the Bernabeu crowd for missing chances as Zinedine Zidane’s side struggled to a 2-2 draw against Valencia last Sunday.
Speaking to Marca, Alonsoo said “They are top players and nobody can doubt what they have done before,” he said. “The season is very long. We have just played two games. I have no doubts about Karim, or Gareth, or any other player as they will all be important.”
“[Asensio] is taking it all naturally,” he said. “Sergio [Ramos] and the others will help him a lot.
Bit by bit he will get more prominence, but without burning him out. This is a moment for him to grow, to continue his development. He is taking giant steps, and each day is a more important member of the squad.”
Alonso was a teammate of Bale and Benzema as Madrid won the 2014 “Decima” Champions League, and said it looked like their current dominance of the European scene was set to continue.
“Madrid are now the reference point in Europe and the world, without doubt,” Alonso said. “If we look at how they have been playing these four years, and the health of the team, it looks like it can last some years yet. You never know how far they can go, but the feelings they transmit are stupendous.
“Zidane’s great strength is he has known how to manage everything, how to have them all motivated. They even won La Liga, where they had not done well recently. They are going in a very good direction.”
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