'Madrid still growing in spirit': Boss Alonso before Kairat tie

Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Monday his team is still growing in personality and spirit, following their thrashing by Atletico Madrid in La Liga. Los Blancos fell to their first defeat of the season against their city rivals before travelling to Almaty in Kazakhstan, where they will face Kairat in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Alonso's side were overrun 5-2 on Saturday by Atletico and the coach, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in June, insisted his wounded team has not yet defined their personality. "[Connection] is fundamental when you have to build your idea of [how to play] football, building a spirit," Alonso said.

"I think we are still in that construction phase, a phase of improvement. How long will it last? I don't know how long, but we are still taking steps forward," he added.

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