After the defeat in the Spanish Cup round of 16, Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa did not hide his post-match emotions and openly spoke about how demanding the club is.
According to the coach, at a club like Real even a draw is not seen as a normal outcome — it is almost a failure, even a “small tragedy.” A loss makes the pressure even heavier, especially when the opponent is a team from another league.
Without looking for scapegoats, Arbeloa first pointed to himself. He said he chose the lineup. He set the playing style. He made the substitutions. Therefore, the responsibility for the result ultimately falls on him.
“If we have to look for someone to blame for the result, it’s me first. I picked the lineup, I set the style of play, and I made the substitutions,” Arbeloa said.
At the same time, the coach did not speak harshly about the players. On the contrary, he thanked them and stressed that the main task now is to restore the team as quickly as possible both physically and mentally. In other words, the plan is not to “blame,” but to “get them back on their feet.”
“All I can do is thank the players for the way they’ve accepted me and help them recover physically and mentally,” Arbeloa said.
Arbeloa also added that he trusted his squad selection. He said he has talented players, but delivering what the coach demands immediately is not always easy. It’s a process that requires time, adaptation, and mutual understanding.
“I trusted my squad selection. I have talented players, but it’s not always easy for them to do what I ask right away. In the end, all the responsibility stays with me,” Arbeloa said.
One conclusion: defeats are not forgiven at Real, but Arbeloa did not shy away from the pressure — he took responsibility head-on. Now the key question for fans is how the team will respond — will it “break,” or “come back even stronger.”
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