"Real Madrid kicked off preparations for their upcoming Champions League campaign with a full training session in Madrid on Monday, overseen by head coach Xabi Alonso. "We're approaching everything with the utmost excitement that comes with playing in the Champions League with Madrid," Alonso said during a press conference after the training session. "The Champions League is special everywhere, but even more so for Madrid. A little more so at the Bernabeu with all its history. It's even more motivating. We start our season in European competition after the start of La Liga." Alonso also praised the integration of his squad, highlighting the balance between individual talent and collective play. "I was optimistic that we would be able to connect, that we would be able to get to know each other little by little. You see the player, how curious he is about the game. He really likes football, he really likes to understand things, and when he understands them and feels them, that individual quality flourishes. Different, isn't it? But it's not just Kylian or Vini or Rodrygo, we need the team to work, we need to have that collective quality with the ball, without the ball," said Alonso. When asked about French striker Kylian Mbappe's leadership over the past three months, Alonso responded: "Without a doubt. Because of his personality, his experience, and the influence he has on the rest, he is one of them." Alonso remained focused on the team's objectives, one of which is to win the Champions League. "It's an honour. It's a motivation. It's a responsibility that you live with, that you enjoy. When you come and put on the shirt or train, that's what it's for. It's a privilege," he stressed. Real Madrid will host Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday in their opening match of the 2025-2026 Champions League season."