"Valverde makes my life easier because he is a top player"

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said on Tuesday that Fede Valverde "makes his life much easier" and that he is a player "who does practically everything well", after the 1-0 win over Juventus in the last 16 of the Club World Cup.

'He makes my life much easier, because he is a top player, a player who does practically everything well, he carries his team-mates, on and off the ball, he is one of the best,' said Xabi Alonso at the post-match press conference.

Valverde was voted man of the match in the win over Juventus that sent Madrid into the quarter-finals. The decisive goal was scored by Gonzalo Garcia with a header.

"I'm happy for Gonzalo, but for the whole team in general. We've gradually improved, these players have already played a lot of knockout games, but not at this stage, and to start to feel that is what we need," he said.

The youth international started again, while Kylian Mbappe made his debut in the tournament in the second half.

"I think he's going to get better day by day. Between now and the quarter-finals he's going to be better, we're going to see him, I talk to him every day," he said.

On a tactical level, he stressed the need to grow as a team, and not on the basis of individuals, and considered that Vinicius Junior "can make the difference both on the left flank and in the centre", he said.