I don’t regret anything, insists Arbeloa but reports suggest stunning cup upset means Real Madrid are already searching for a new coach
It was a nightmare debut as Real Madrid coach for Alvaro Arbeloa
Alvaro Arbeloa insists he would not do anything differently but reports suggest the Real Madrid board are already planning to change direction.
Arbeloa’s decision to rest several key players – including Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois – for his first game in charge backfired spectacularly at Albacete last night as the Segunda Division side secured an historic 3-2 victory to knock Madrid out of the Copa del Rey.
As opening nights go it was a disaster for Arbeloa, who had been handed the reins following the departure of Xabi Alonso on Monday. Formerly coach of Real Madrid Castilla, Arbeloa was promoted to the top job with a clear mandate to get a disgruntled dressing room back on side.
“At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this,” Arbeloa said. “It’s painful, especially against a lower division team. Obviously we have to improve.
“I’m responsible, I take the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We’ll try to recover our morale and improve for the game on Saturday [against Levante in La Liga].
“I was convinced the squad was the right one, and I still think that. We have an extraordinary squad, with great players. It isn’t easy for them to do everything I’ve asked of them after just one day [in the job]. We have a lot of players to get back to their best physical level.
“I don’t regret anything. I’d pick the same team again.”
Real Madrid captain Carvajal admits they’ve hit ‘rock bottom’
It was a bold approach in the face of such embarrassment. Captain Dani Carvajal displayed a little more introspection.
“I think we’ve hit rock bottom today,” he said. “We’ve been knocked out by a second-division team. Congratulations to them. From tomorrow we’ll all do some self-criticism, individually and collectively. There’s still time to turn the season around.”
Whether Arbeloa is a part of that process remains to be seen. Perhaps tellingly, Madrid did not disclose how long he would be in charge in his welcome announcement and the Spanish press this morning suggested plans were being accelerated to bring in a full-time replacement for Alonso.
Arbeloa remains confident he can turn the tanker around, however, adding: “If people want to describe this as a failure I’d understand it. For me, failure lies on the way to success. … I don’t fear that word. I’ve failed a lot in my life, I’ve suffered defeats in cups, I’m excited about getting to [training ground] Valdebebas tomorrow and working with the players, to [play] much better on Saturday.”
A clash with second-bottom Levante at the weekend appears the perfect game for Madrid to get back on track. Alonso’s side won the reverse fixture 4-1 in September.