Xabi Alonso lauds Real Madrid's mentality in the race for LaLiga title

's willingness to slog out results when they aren't at their best, according to Xabi Alonso, has been vital to their accomplishment this season as Los Blancos chase a 35th

crown. 

Alonso, who now manages Real Sociedad's B squad, played 236 matches for the Los Blancos during a five-year period, helping Carlo Ancelotti's club win the

in 2014. 

With Ancelotti back in charge, Madrid leads Barcelona by 15 points at the top of LaLiga, and the Italian appears destined to win his first Spanish crown after winning league titles in Italy, England, France, and Germany.

Los Blancos have won 17 points from losing situations this season, the most in LaLiga, after defeating Sevilla 3-2 with a late Karim Benzema goal last time out. Alonso feels that battling attitude has been essential. 

"I think the team have found that stability, knowing that maybe they can struggle during one game, but they will have a chance to win and that they can win any game," he told FedEx.

"So far, in difficult moments, they have won games, and they are feeling comfortable playing great football and comfortable playing not the best football.

"Sometimes that's important as well, not to get nervous when you are not playing your best, to deal with those difficult times. I think that Madrid, they have dealt very well with those moments and that's why they are now in a great position.

"[There are] still many points [to play for], but yes, they are favourites [to win the league]. I think that they are the most consistent team. That's what gives you the best chance to win LaLiga at the moment. 

"I think that Carlo is a wise man. He knows how to find and to put the pieces together. That's why he's been with so many clubs, and he's [done] so many great things. He's finding his team, and he's able to deal with them so well because he has those skills to deal with the players.

"

Madrid has won 23 of its 32 Primera Division fixtures this season, their most at this point in the season since 2016-17, when they claimed the title with an identical record at this point. 

Alonso praised Ancelotti's dependable engine-room three, despite the fact that 39-goal forward

Karim Benzema

has spearheaded the assault for LaLiga and Champions League titles. 

The 40-year-old also praised Barcelona's youthful midfielders but emphasized that the Blaugrana are in a "different phase" than Real Madrid as Xavi rebuilds the Catalan powerhouse.

"Year by year, the midfield of Madrid, they are getting older, but they are as good as always. I've seen that Casemiro, Luka [Modric] and Toni [Kroos], they are safe as houses for any manager," he added.

"I think that Carlo has found what he needs from them and for sure he will need to rotate them. [But] they are playing very, very good football, and they are showing composure. 

"As always [with] Barca players, they have different kind of midfielders, [at a] different stage of their careers. For example, Nico, Gavi with the support of [Sergio] Busquets, it's a great prospect, but they are in a different moment right now."

Alonso named

Zinedine Zidane

of Real Madrid and France as the player he would most like to play with.

"For sure, I would have loved to play with Zidane because I remember when I started playing in Sociedad, one of my first memories was playing against one of my idols. That was him," he added.

"To play against him, it was hard, but it was so enjoyable, and he was so elegant, things looked so easy for him, and he was such a good player. I would have loved to play with him, but I played against him."

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