Alaba spoke to Realmadrid TV following our team’s win over Austrian outfit WSG Tirol: “I’m really happy, of course. This is my country, I think the atmosphere was fantastic. I’m delighted. I’m much better, pretty much 100%. I’m feeling strong, and 100% ready to play.”

His role in the centre of the park

“It’s different, of course. It’s not my natural position, but I know it from having played there a bit in the past.”

Assessment of the team ahead of the opening game

“We’re in good shape, we’ve got a week before the first game, and we’re there or there abouts.”