Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has said the clash between his players and their rivals Barcelona after their clásico on Sunday was just “the tension of the moment”.
The match ended in a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid and at full-time players from both sides engaged in a scuffle, with Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal at the centre of it.
“These scuffles have always happened, not just in these games,” Alonso said.
“A lot of things were happening in the game. It can be healthy, as long as there’s respect. That is how I saw it anyway.”
Alonso also downplayed Vinicius’s angry reaction to being substituted.
The Brazilian was lively for Madrid and created the second goal with his deep run and cross from the left. He was eventually replaced by Rodrygo in the 72nd minute with Madrid only a goal ahead and still holding on.
But the winger reacted strongly to the decision, gesturing wildly in frustration before ignoring the bench and heading straight down the tunnel.
He later returned to the pitch and joined the post-match scuffle.
It is not the first time Vinicius has reacted angrily at being substituted this season.
Alonso said: “I’ll focus on a lot of the positive things in the game.
“We’ll talk about [Vinicius’s reaction], of course, but I don’t want to move the spotlight away from what’s really important.
“We’ll talk about it in the context of the great game it was. Vini contributed a lot. It’s an important, deserved victory. It’s important, the feeling of being a competitive team in big games.”
