Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa has shouldered the blame for their Copa del Rey humiliation and called on the Bernabeu faithful to roar them back to form against Levante this weekend. The young manager faced the press on Friday, his side still reeling from a midweek exit at the hands of second tier Albacete.
“The team is focused and full of energy,” Arbeloa insisted. “Returning to the Bernabeu is a great motivation. I understand the fans’ disappointment, but I ask them to stay close.” He leaned on the club’s history, stating: “In 123 years, many great achievements has been possible thanks to the Bernabeu supporting the players.”
There was a rare bit of good news on the injury front, however. Arbeloa confirmed that star forward Kylian Mbappe “is feeling better and will be included in the squad list,” providing a major boost for a side lacking punch.
But the shadow of Albacete looms large. In a stark admission, Arbeloa refused to point fingers at the previous regime of Xabi Alonso. “I will not criticise that work. If things went wrong in Albacete, the responsibility is mine, and it will be for everything that happens from now on,” he declared. He promised work with fitness coach Antonio Pintus to “bring out the best version” of a squad whose mentality has been questioned.
Outlining his vision, the new gaffer demanded a side with guts. “I want a Real Madrid that steps onto the pitch with desire and determination from the first minute, motivated to attack,” he said. “We have our ideas, but I want a team with character and ambition, one the fans can identify with.” He pointed to the influence of Vinicius Junior, who he said “carried the team on his shoulders” at times last season, as the kind of leadership he needs.
In a revealing moment, Arbeloa recalled how current skipper Dani Carvajal set the standard after his first Champions League win, telling him: “Let’s go get another one, shall we?”. “This,” Arbeloa stressed, “is what it means to lead.”
The broader picture is clear. With Barcelona flying high, this La Liga clash with Levante is no longer a mere formality. It’s a must win to stop the early season rot, steady the ship, and prove Arbeloa’s rallying cry isn’t just empty words. The pressure at the Bernabeu wait for no one, not even a club legend.