No player has ever said they don't want to play: Xabi Alonso

Madrid: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso on Friday denied his authority was being challenged by any of the players in his squad. In a press conference...

Madrid: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso on Friday denied his authority was being challenged by any of the players in his squad.

In a press conference ahead of Saturday's game against Villarreal, the coach was asked about his relations with the squad after Vinicius Jr reacted badly to being substituted in midweek's UEFA Champions League game away to Kairat Almaty, while Federico Valverde is rumored to have refused to go on as a second-half substitute at full-back.

Valverde issued a communique in midweek to insist he had never refused to play, and Alonso told the press that "no player, not Fede, not Rodrygo, not Vinicius, has ever told me they don't want to play in a position."

"That hasn't happened, they all want to play and when they're not playing, they'd like to be on the pitch," Alonso insisted, adding that Valverde was "ready" to face Villarreal.

"We know how important the game is and how important Fede is to the team," the coach said.