Alonso targets improvement

Midfielder keen to avoid 'Galactico' tag

Last updated: 28th November 2009  

Alonso targets improvement

Alonso: Staying humble

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Xabi Alonso has admitted that the current Real Madrid crop are uncomfortable with the term 'Galactico'.

The word is most commonly associated with the Real Madrid side of a few seasons ago when Florentino Perez was in his first tenure as club president.

The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham were brought to the Santiago Bernabeu in big-money moves but Real sometimes failed to live up to they hype and deliver the trophies expected of them.

Perez has assembled a similarly impressive squad since becoming president again over the summer, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Alonso among the new arrivals.

However, Alonso would prefer not to be referred to as a 'Galactico' and has insisted Real are still far from the finished article.

"That's a term that has done a lot of damage to past eras," the former Liverpool midfielder told the Daily Mail.

"That's why it is avoided. We never use that word. It's nothing close to Galactico here. It's very humble, everything here is earthly.

"I think we're in a process. There's a lot of things to improve, to gel, but I feel we've taken a step forward.

"In that sense we are happy. But we don't want to get over-ambitious, just get better."

Barca test

Real travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season on Sunday and Alonso is relishing the challenge.

"It'll be a nice experience for me. It is a massive stadium," he said.

"The last time I played there was with Liverpool, last 16 of the Champions League, and we got a great result. So my last memories are brilliant.

"But it'll probably be a more passionate game on Sunday, the Clasico for them is very important.

"It's always special to play in the Nou Camp. I've played there with Real Sociedad, with Liverpool, but playing there with Real Madrid will make it even more special because we know the meaning of this big Clasico."