In the Spanish Super Cup final that just concluded at King Abdullah Stadium, Real Madrid narrowly lost to Barcelona 2-3, missing out on the championship.

After the match, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso expressed mixed feelings at the press conference: "I have very mixed feelings. Although it is disappointing not to win the final, I am very proud of the team's spirit of fighting to the last minute under extremely unfavorable circumstances."

Alonso believed the final was extremely close, with both sides exchanging attacks. Real Madrid defended solidly for the first 30 minutes and created threats through counter-attacks. However, a mistake late in the first half conceded a goal and broke the deadlock.

Despite a fierce second-half comeback from a 2-3 deficit, and a near-penalty shootout, the team ultimately fell short due to poor finishing. "We fought until the final whistle," Alonso said. "The team showed a great attitude and unwavering resilience."

Regarding the issue of physical fitness in the final moments, Alonso pointed out that the real limiting factor for the team was the serious injury list. Federico Valverde's unexpected injury and the fact that players like Dean Huisen played through injuries to the limit greatly affected the team's stability and player rotation.

"This isn't simply a matter of physical reserves; it's that injuries have prevented us from maintaining the ideal lineup distribution in crucial moments," Alonso explained, adding that the players have already put in far more effort than usual.

Despite his disappointment with the result, Alonso emphasized that the team must quickly adjust their mentality. He pointed out that the season is still long, and the first priority upon returning to Madrid is to ensure the key players recover as soon as possible.