In his first match on the bench, Alvaro Arbeloa experienced a nightmare evening with Real Madrid’s elimination from the Copa del Rey after a defeat to Albacete (3-2), a second division club.
This match confirmed that there is no miracle solution: Real only scored from set pieces, lacked leadership (notably from Vinicius), and displayed significant defensive weaknesses, conceding the decisive goal in the final seconds.
However, Arbeloa showed his willingness to rotate the squad by resting several key players and introducing young talents like Jorge Cestero. His team attempted to implement a high press, true to his principles, but lacked consistency throughout the match.
The very offensive full-backs contributed a lot to the play, but without real effectiveness, while Federico Valverde regained a place in midfield, wearing the captain’s armband and taking on a leadership role. A disappointing first match, but rich in lessons, as Real remains under pressure ahead of upcoming challenges.
Arbeloa takes the blame
The new coach therefore took this defeat personally. “If someone is responsible, it’s me, because I made the decisions regarding the team lineup, how we wanted to play, and the substitutions. I can only thank the players for the welcome they gave me and help them recover physically and mentally,” he said.
“I feel fully responsible. The important thing is to get to work and get back on our feet. We have many players to bring back to their best physical condition, to work with, and to prepare for Saturday’s match.” But for Arbeloa, it will already be a make-or-break match. In case of defeat, he could simply be fired in turn. After just 2 matches.
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