After Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2-1 in the Champions League playoffs and advanced to the next stage, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa shared his thoughts on the game. It's clear from his words that this match wasn't easy for the "royal club," but after some important adjustments, the team managed to turn the game in their favor.
Arbeloa emphasized that no match in the Champions League is easy. In his opinion, Benfica has shown a very active and pressuring game. The opponent's pressing, in particular, created significant problems for the Madrid side in the opening minutes. The coach noted that the team failed to capitalize on the gaps that appeared among the midfielders in the first half and therefore did not immediately gain the expected advantage in the game.
Nevertheless, the necessary conclusions were drawn during the break. According to Arbeloa, this shortcoming was addressed in the second half, and the team started playing much better, more reliably, and more disciplinedly afterward. This strengthened Real Madrid's dominance on the field and directly impacted the result.
The coach specifically highlighted Orelen Chuameni's goal, considering it one of the most important moments of the match. According to him, much has been said about Chuameni's performance in recent days, and the French player is currently playing at a very high level. Arbeloa emphasized that he would score many more goals if Chuameni had the opportunity to freely reach the penalty area. This statement demonstrates the coach's high level of confidence in him.
Arbeloa also highlighted Vinicius Junior's performance in the match. According to him, the Brazilian striker had a great match, scored a goal, and created a threat to the opponent's goal in every opportunity. The coach jokingly stated that Vinicius had enough "best player of the match" awards at home, but added that this time Orelen Chuameni also deserved such recognition.
Arbeloa highlighted another important aspect: when Kylian Mbappé isn't on the field, Real Madrid needs Vinicius even more. In his opinion, Vinicius is one of the team's key players, and Real Madrid's game should largely revolve around him. These words once again confirm the increasing importance of the Brazilian footballer's role in the team. Arbeloa expressed hope that it would continue in this spirit, in this pace, and in this quality.
In conclusion, the Real Madrid coach also touched upon the next stage. He says that now, no matter who opens, there won't be an easy opponent. Serious, strong, and ready teams will play in every stage of the Champions League. Therefore, the upcoming matches will not be an easy journey for the Madrid side, but another major test.
In short, Arbeloa's thoughts clearly showed Real Madrid's current image: a team that can draw the right conclusions in difficult times, make changes within the game, and achieve results through their leaders. This time, Chuameni and Vinicius have become the team's main heroes, but as the coach said, there are still more difficult and serious trials ahead.
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