Former Barcelona star slams new Real Madrid boss Arbeloa and says tactically he “does not reach the sole of Xabi Alonso’s shoes”
Real Madrid's decision to replace Xabi Alonso with Alvaro Arbeloa has been met with scepticism
Former Barcelona midfielder Oscar Garcia believes Real Madrid have downgraded by appointing Alvaro Arbeloa as coach and says tactically he “does not reach the sole of Xabi Alonso’s shoes”.
Arbeloa takes charge of Madrid for the first time tonight after stepping up from the club’s B team to succeed Alonso, who left the club on Monday after a turbulent seven months in charge.
Madrid go to Albacete in the Copa del Rey but Garcia, who made almost 70 appearances for Barca in the 1990s, thinks the new man will struggle.
He told ‘Tot Costa’ on Catalunya Radio: “Tactically, for the little I have seen [Madrid’s B team] Castilla, he does not even reach the sole of Xabi Alonso’s shoes.
“He wants to be like [Jose] Mourinho and the only reason he is now coach of Real Madrid is because he only talks about Mourinho.”
Perez will always side with the Real Madrid players – Garcia
Alonso was reportedly the victim of player power at the Santiago Bernabeu with several high-profile members of the Madrid squad not convinced by his methods.
Arbeloa now has to steady the ship but Garcia reckons president Florentino Perez will always side with the players due to their value.
The former Brighton, RB Salzburg and Celta Vigo coach added: “Arbeloa will get together with the players who did not get along with Xabi Alonso. The president, no matter how much he is on his rope, will see who pulls more.
“For the president, who is more important: Vinicius or Arbeloa? He knows how the fans want him to play… but he has to be very good at turning it around.”