Xabi Alonso explains why Real Madrid won’t train at Anfield with “200 cameras”

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Xabi Alonso has confirmed Real Madrid will not train at Anfield ahead of their Champions League clash against Liverpool on Tuesday. LaLiga leaders Real will instead carry out their final preparations for the clash at their training base in Valdebebas before flying to Merseyside on Monday afternoon.

Explaining his decision after his side’s 4-0 win over Valencia on Saturday, Alonso said: “It’s my decision because we have to prepare for the match and we prefer to do it at our training ground, in our own space, so that we’re not surrounded by 200 cameras.” In the Champions League, it has become common practice for teams to train at the home side’s ground the night before the game. Like Madrid, Liverpool typically prefer to train at the AXA Training Centre the day before the game instead, before jetting to the host city.

Alonso will still need to travel to Anfield when he arrives in Liverpool on Monday night, as the opposition manager and one player from their squad are required to speak to the media. Real Madrid are one of five sides to have won all three of their Champions League fixtures this season and have won three of their last four meetings with Liverpool.