Álvaro Arbeloa on El Hormiguero (2014). Featured photo by El Hormiguero TV on Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0
The team of dreams, the miracle team, and whatever you call them, there is no bigger club than Real Madrid, and I am saying that as an FC Barcelona fan. They have won over 100 trophies, which include 36 La Liga titles, 20 Copa del Rey titles, 13 Spanish Super Cups, and others. They do not believe in gentle transitions, and Alvaro Arbeloa learnt that lesson immediately.
Right after a soul-crushing defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final against arch-rivals, Barcelona. Former Real Madrid player and manager Xabi Alonso left the head coach position within eight months in the role. It's not a resignation but the sacking of a player who contributed in 34 matches for them. Although his overall win rate was over 70%, he succumbed to the club's high expectations in major tournaments.
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Now, Álvaro Arbeloa, an ex-Real Madrid player and former coach of the Real Madrid B team, has bigger shoes to fill. In his first match, Real Madrid lost unexpectedly against a minnow team like Albacete by 3-2, and exited the Copa Del Rey. The 20-time winners will not even be playing the semi-finals, which is disappointing not only for fans but also for team management.
"At Real Madrid, even a draw is bad, a tragedy," says Arbeloa, carrying the weight of defeat on his shoulders. It is a strong statement considering that he has known the club inside out for the last 16-17 years. It is commendable that he accepts the club is not playing up to the mark and owns the statement.
Why criticize Alvaro Arbeloa?
A photo by Junta de Andalucía on Wikimedia commons. CC-BY-SA 2.0
When you rest stars like Kylian Mbappé, Thibaut Courtois, Bellingham or Rodrygo in a knockout encounter, you invite scrutiny directly. Additionally, the last humiliating defeat was less than a week ago. In the whole match, Real Madrid lacked rhythm and creativity. Vinicius Junior tried but could not impose himself.
The fans felt that it was strange to lose despite having 78% ball possession and 11 corners. Arbeloa stood by his choices and believes the squad was strong enough, and that he made no unjust decisions. His belief is to build a sustainable team while also winning. Besides, it is not the first time that Real Madrid has faced turbulence.
Carlos Ancelotti also had an initial bad run as a Manager. From a painful defeat against Atlético Madrid in the 2013 Copa Del Rey final to winning the 2014 Champions League, there were lots of ups and downs. The French star player, Zinedine Zidane, also faced skepticism. Still, a hat-trick of UEFA Champions League titles made him the only coach to do so.
We do not know Alvaro Arbeloa's potential. He's a young coach, and comparing him to legends like Zinedine Zidane or Carlo Ancelotti would not be justified. He was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad in 2010, but playing and managing can be two different things. Some great coaches were not elite players, whether it is Jurgen Klopp or Jose Mourinho. On the other hand, great players like Maradona or Alan Shearer did not succeed enough as managers.
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What do Real Madrid players have to say about it?
Photo by All-Pro Reels on Wikimedia Commons. (CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Upsets happen. Whether it is Saudi Arabia defeating Argentina in 2022 or Albacete defeating Real Madrid, both upsets have similar intensity.
Getting knocked out hurts, whether it is against a strong team or a perceived weak team. Captain Dani Carvajal called this loss "Rock Bottom"; he apologized to fans and congratulated Albacete without any bitterness.
Carvajal emphasizes that they need to move forward, and there are plenty of opportunities in the season. That balance of humility and belief is crucial for a club facing a leadership crisis. Arbeloa strongly believes that "failure is on the road to success” may sound philosophical, but it is a dangerous idea unless backed by results.
Historically, the managers who understand the club's emotional language often survive the chaos better than those who do not. From a rival's perspective, we would say that one match cannot define either Arbeloa's tenure or Real Madrid's future. We know what they're capable of, and when they do pray for miracles, miracles arrive.
