Alonso sidesteps Yamal’s ‘cheating’ jibe as El Clasico tensions rise

MADRID: Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso declined to comment on Saturday after Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal suggested the capital club “cheat” and “complain” in a televised interview on Friday.
Instead, Alonso directed his focus to Sunday’s El Clasico at the Bernabeu, emphasising the importance of the match for his LaLiga leaders who have 24 points, two ahead of Barca in second.
Alonso faced repeated questions from reporters regarding Yamal’s remarks, made during an appearance on a Kings League program alongside former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
The 18-year-old Barca forward compared Real to Porcinos, a Kings League team, stating: “Of course! Yes, they cheat, they complain ...” The comments, which Pique supported, stirred debate in the build-up to one of soccer’s most iconic fixtures.
When asked about Yamal’s statements, Alonso dismissed the topic. “It’s an important match ...

important enough,” he said.
“It has many ingredients for us to play well, for us to enjoy it. And that’s what excites us the most, the biggest incentive for tomorrow.”
Pressed further, Alonso reiterated his stance.
“No, I’m not going to get into that.

There have been a lot of statements from people in Barcelona and I can’t comment on them all. For us, the important thing is the pitch, what happens on the pitch.

Where we’ve come from and what lies ahead. That’s what concerns me most and what we’ve been working on.”
Visibly irritated when the question came up a third time, Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real in June, added: “Are we going back to that? What I have in my head is that it’s going to be an intense and competitive match.
“We have to be prepared because there will be moments for everything.