Federico Valverde says Real Madrid held “rare” crisis talks after their 5-2 derby humiliation by Atletico Madrid, blasting his teammates’ attitude as Xabi Alonso’s side collapsed after going into half-time tied 2-2.
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MADRID LOSE TOP SPOT AFTER DERBY DRUBBING
Real Madrid’s trip to the Metropolitano was a harsh reality check, halting their perfect La Liga start. Despite dominating possession, Xabi Alonso’s men were ripped apart defensively and punished by their city rivals.
Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler were only consolation in their first defeat of the campaign, which also cost Madrid top spot as they slipped a point behind arch-rivals Barcelona.
Ahead of a Champions League clash with Kairat Almaty, Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde offered a blunt assessment of the dressing-room mood following Saturday’s derby humbling.
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VALVERDE CALLS FOR URGENT CHANGE
“They were two very tough days, everyone upset by the defeat,” Valverde told reporters on Monday. “We talked a lot; since I’ve been at Madrid that rarely happens, so many conversations. We have to change as quickly as possible. We stressed attitude on the pitch, and we spoke a lot with the coach. Tuesday’s game is our first chance to put things right.”
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VALVERDE: ‘ATTITUDE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE’
The Uruguayan midfielder was scathing about Madrid’s mindset at the Metropolitano, insisting that a lack of effort was unacceptable.
“These are games where you don’t even need a locker-room speech to get motivated. That can’t happen—at Madrid or anywhere. You have to motivate yourself for every match, especially a derby. We can fail in many ways, but attitude is non-negotiable—it’s the first step to show we want to win,” Valverde said.
He pointed to the sluggish start after half-time: “We came out as if a draw would do. We must change that, starting with this game. As a key player, I have to help us move on and use this as a chance to grow.”
Manager Xabi Alonso added that mentality was only part of the issue: “It wasn’t just attitude. It was also rhythm, tactical aspects—different parts of the game,” he explained.
VALVERDE ADMITS PERSONAL FORM DIP
On a personal note, the Madrid captain conceded that his recent displays have fallen short.
“I’m a little frustrated and I know when things aren’t going my way,” Valverde admitted. “It’s been harder to feel comfortable on the pitch, but I’ll keep working. As captain, I’ll continue to lead the group and stand up for myself when I play.”
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REAL MADRID CHANCE FOR INSTANT REDEMPTION
Real Madrid travel to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty in their second Champions League group game on Tuesday night. Manager Xabi Alonso urged his players to shift into “Champions League mode,” while captain Federico Valverde called the match a vital chance to reset.
“Trying to change what happened the other day, come out with a different attitude and win,” Valverde said. “Let it be a little revenge to change the dynamic.”