Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has described the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain as a “great challenge”, praising counterpart Luis Enrique for the energy and momentum the French side have carried through recent months.
Los Blancos booked their place in the final four with a dramatic win over Borussia Dortmund, and now face a PSG team that has taken the tournament by storm, continuing their dazzling form from their Champions League triumph earlier this year.
The semi-final is set for Wednesday 9 July at 21:00 local time, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, and will be broadcast live on Canale 5 and streamed online.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Alonso acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. “Luis Enrique is transmitting a very positive energy right now,” he said. “Since the Champions League round of 16, PSG have been playing at an incredibly high level. It’s going to be a very tough test for us.”
The Spanish manager was clear about his team’s ambition: “We have to win the semi-final. We’re closer to our objective now, and we’ll keep pushing forward. The rhythm is good, and we want to grow and improve as a team.”
Alonso also gave an update on Kylian Mbappé, who scored in the quarter-final against Dortmund but is still recovering from a bout of gastroenteritis that sidelined him for the early stages of the tournament.
“He’s getting better,” Alonso confirmed. “He’s not yet at 100%, but he’s improving every day. Now he has four more days to recover and be ready.”
As the Club World Cup reaches its final stages, anticipation is building for what promises to be a high-octane semi-final between two European giants, with a place in the final on the line.
