"Real Madrid may have partially exorcised the demons of their derby humiliation with last night's 5-0 win at Kairat Almaty but boss Xabi Alonso may have returned from Kazakhstan with an even bigger problem. Madrid were hammered 5-2 by Atletico at the Metropolitano on Saturday following a dismal second half display. They flew east determined to make amends and did so with a routine, and expected, victory against the Champions League minnows."
"Valverde had to face questions on Monday from the media relating to rumours he had refused to fill in as an emergency right-back due to injuries to Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold. He batted them off and insisted he would "die for the shirt". He did admit, however, that the position did not come naturally to him and that he "didn't grow up playing there"."
"However, when the teams were announced and Valverde was among the substitutes, it indicated at an issue, even more so when the former Penarol midfielder didn't join his colleagues for the pe-match warm-up. Valverde sat isolated on the bench during the game and, when asked to warm-up in the second half, stood motionless on the touchline with his hands behind his back."
Real Madrid responded to a 5-2 derby defeat by beating Kairat Almaty 5-0, but underlying issues emerged. Vinicius Jr showed displeasure after being substituted, while midfielder Federico Valverde displayed petulant behavior and was linked to rumors about refusing to play emergency right-back. Valverde insisted he would "die for the shirt" but said right-back "didn't grow up playing there." He was expected to start as captain but was named among substitutes and did not join the pre-match warm-up. Valverde sat isolated on the bench and stood motionless when asked to warm up. Xabi Alonso described the omission as load management.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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