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Barcelona sporting director Deco spoke to El Larguero just a day after Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup success and only hours after Real Madrid officially announced the dismissal of Xabi Alonso.
Given the timing, it was inevitable that the former midfielder would be asked about the situation unfolding at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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While Deco’s interview largely focused on Barcelona, he did not avoid addressing the turbulent moment Real Madrid are currently experiencing.
What did he say?
The Barça sporting director offered an external view of a decision that has surprised much of Spanish football.
Asked directly about Alonso’s sacking, he admitted that the move caught him off guard, especially considering the context of the season so far.
“The truth is that it surprised me. He hasn’t been there long. He’s basically just started.
“They’re in the Champions League and only four points behind Barça in La Liga.
“We know the impact that Barça-Madrid games have, they’re always complicated situations, and the coaches are the first to suffer.”
On Arbeloa’s appointment
Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Deco was also asked about Alvaro Arbeloa stepping in as a replacement, at least on an interim basis.
Rather than offering an opinion on Arbeloa’s suitability, he chose to remain respectful, keeping the focus away from Madrid’s internal choices.
He said, “I don’t know his work and whether or not he’s a good coach. In these cases, I prefer to focus on our work and wait to see how everything goes.”
The conversation then shifted to a comparison between Barcelona and Real Madrid from a footballing point of view.
Deco highlighted what he has observed tactically from Madrid in recent matches, particularly against Atletico Madrid.
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“I’ve seen Madrid with a more counter-attacking approach. They did it against Atlético, exploiting the speed of Vini and Rodrygo in attack.
“We don’t like to focus on the opposition. Our idea of football is clear and we always want to control the ball. I think that since Hansi’s arrival, we have given,” he concluded.
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